Ethnicity and Genetics of Glaucoma
Ethnicity and Genetics of Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a term that has always been associated as being one of the major causes of complete blindness in majority of people in the world. Since it is a disease that goes in hand with diabetes, people with high levels of sugar in their blood are more at risk from glaucoma than any other. However, a lot of genetic factors are also responsible in an individual to contract glaucoma, diabetic or no diabetic.
Sharp Sight Centre located in the heart of Delhi/NCR and Srinagar in India attempts to unravel the findings so far made in the field of glaucoma based upon zillions of research conducted by some renowned names in the eye healthcare sector.
As per these findings genetics play a major role in activating and aggravating all major forms of glaucoma in a person.
With advancements in technology and medicine, scientists have been able to lift the veil shrouding the various genetics at play in a person’s body that leads to development of a particular form of glaucoma.
As a matter of fact, many key theories and studies conducted in recent years have successfully answered some of the major questions associated with glaucoma and help formulate a better plan of action for treating this disease in future.
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a condition that damages the optic nerve of the eye due to extreme pressure within the eye which in turn is caused by the blockage in the drainage of natural fluids of the eye. If glaucoma remains untreated for long it can cause complete loss of vision, damage for which cure hasn’t been found yet.
Genetics effects on different types of glaucoma
Primary Open Angle Glaucoma- Known more popularly as POAG, this type of glaucoma is the most common one to attack people. Research has shown that mutations in genes like myocilin, optineurin, and CYP1B1 are responsible for causing POAG although it constitutes only less than 10% of the world population.
Primary Congenital Glaucoma– Glaucoma is not restricted to just old people. Young children in rare cases can also be affected by it. PCG disease which according to research causes blindness in juveniles is found most commonly in Middle East and Central Europe. As per studies, mutations in gene CYP1B1 cause PCG.
Primary Close Angle Glaucoma– The second most common type of glaucoma to affect roughly 16 million people globally, PCAG can trace its origin back to mutations in genes like PLEKHA7, PCMTD1/ST18, and COL11A1.
Besides these, exfoliation glaucoma which is one of the most common forms of open angle glaucoma has also been identified as a byproduct of mutations in genes LOX1 and CNTNAP2.
This researched evidence at this stage is only on paper and haven’t been used for practical analysis. However, with ever increasing technology, the day is not far when the actual causes behind these mutations in specific genes will be successfully diagnosed and glaucoma can be cured once and for all.
Till then go in for regular eye exams at a good eye hospital like Sharp Sight Centre and protect your eyes against glaucoma with the help of their reliable glaucoma treatments in Delhi/NCR, India.
