Ep 13 Talking About Glaucoma - 6Dec2010: Glaucoma risk factors with Marcelo Nicolela (AAC Enhanced)

Show notes Talking About Glaucoma #13 December 2010 Glaucoma Risk Factors

In this episode, Dr Nicolela and I discuss the risk factors  for the development of glaucoma. This includes talking about the difference between risk factors for developing disease vs those for disease to progress. Much of our current knowledge is based on information from clilnical trials and population studies over the past decade. Bear in mind that still intraocular pressure remains as the single most important modifiable risk factor, even in normal tension glaucoma patients.

Some of the risk factors discussed include intraocular pressure (IOP), age, race (african americans and  U.S. Latinos), pachymetry (corneal thickness), family history, and low perfusion pressure as well as signs that likely represent early manifestation of the disease itself such as vertical disc cupping and disc haemmorhages.

Dr Nicolela is Associate Professor and Fellowship Director in the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at Dalhousie University.

Dr Marcelo Nicolela
Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences
1278 Tower Road
Rm. 2035, 2 W Victoria 
Halifax NS  B3H 2Y9

Tel: (902) 473-3622
Fax: (902) 473-2839
Email: nicolela@dal.ca

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Selected References

References for exfoliation as independent risk factor for glaucoma development:
• Päivi Puska. Unilateral exfoliation syndrome: conversion to bilateral exfoliation and to glaucoma: a prospective 10-year follow-up study. J Glaucoma. 2002;11(6):517-24.
• Grodum K, Heijl A, Bengtsson B. Risk of glaucoma in ocular hypertension with and without pseudoexfoliation. Ophthalmology. 2005;112(3):386-90.

Reference for exfoliation as risk factor for glaucoma progression:
• Leske MC, Heijl A, Hussein M, Bengtsson B, Hyman L, Komaroff E; Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial Group. Factors for glaucoma progression and the effect of treatment: the early manifest glaucoma trial. Arch Ophthalmol. 2003;121(1):48-56.

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This episode was recording during the Canadian Ophthalmogical Society 2010 Annual Meeting in Quebec City. The recording gear for this episode included the Blue Microphones YETI, MacBook Pro 2010 15.4”, LaCie Rugged External Drive and Audio Hijack Pro software. Fission was used to convert the audio file to AIFF for Levelator to balance the sound levels. The final audio editing, chapter markers, show notes and images were put together using Garage Band ‘11. I have a lot of fun doing this by myself and recording these interviews with my colleagues. Look for more episodes as I still have another couple that are recorded that I have to edit.

Opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and are not intended to be taken as the standard of care for glaucoma treatment. Please always weigh the complete clinical picture and involve patients with any decisions in their care.



Robert M Schertzer, MD, MEd, FRCSC
Clinical Associate Professor
Dept of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences
University of British Columbia
podcast@iguy.org
http://iguy.tv/podcast

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