Dr. Grossman’s Blog

image via womenshealth.gov

Glaucoma is caused by a number of factors, but one of the most well known is increased intraocular pressure.  A new study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology describes how a condition called corneal arcus, a condition in which a ring of lipids builds up around the cornea, may be responsible for increases in eye pressure.

Corneal arcus is associated with cardiovascular disease.  Researchers can not explain why corneal arcus increases eye pressure, but say “There may be changes in biomechanical properties of the cornea in eyes with corneal arcus, as such mechanisms are emerging as important clinical variables that may affect intraocular pressure measurements.”

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-11/jaaj-ccc110510.php

Learn more about how to prevent and treat glaucoma naturally at our website.

Image via nei.nih.gov

Glaucoma patients are more likely to suffer from and die from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and accidents.

A study of over 300,000 people in Taiwan with and without glaucoma revealed that those with open-angle glaucoma were much more likely to be afflicted by comorbidities that adversely affect their quality of life.  Source: http://www.osnsupersite.com/view.aspx?rid=76960

Since we consider eye health to be a reflection of overall health, it makes sense that the health those with glaucoma would be compromised as well.  It’s not that eye disease is causing these other conditions; it may be that both glaucoma and the other conditions are just the outward signs that a person is unwell. 

For a complete listing of wellness tips to prevent and treat glaucoma and to keep your whole body healthy, look to this page.

Researchers in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Wisconsin have found that risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as smoking and higher body mass index are also risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
 
The subjects in this study were 4,288 women age 63 years and older who were participating in the Women’s Health Initiative Sight Examination (WHISE).  Using a standardized questionnaire and examinations, researchers obtained information from the women on cardiovascular disease and its risk factors.  

919 of the women in the study were diagnosed with AMD (determined by standardized grading of fundus photographs).

The results were straightforward:  women who were identified as having four important risk factors for cardiovascular disease were also significantly more likely to have AMD.  These risk factors were:

• smoking
• use of calcium channel blockers
• diabetes, and
• greater body mass index.

Learn more about macular degeneration

Read other studies about macular degeneration research and prevention

SOURCE:  Cardiovascular disease, its risk factors and treatment, and age-related macular degeneration: Women’s Health Initiative Sight Exam ancillary study, Klein, et al, Am J Ophthalmol. 2007 Mar;143(3):473-83. Epub 2007 Jan 10.