The Examination and Analyses of Gene-lifestyle Interactions in the Development of POAG and XFG
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common type that causes progressive vision loss, usually from the peripheral visual field (VF) and the central VF in advanced stages.
The established risk factors for glaucoma are age, family history, African heritage, and elevated intraocular pressure (IOP); of these, IOP is the only modifiable factor.
Another major type of glaucoma is exfoliation glaucoma (XFG), which is a secondary glaucoma caused by exfoliation syndrome, a systemic condition where greyish white material (exfoliation material) accumulates in various tissues.
Current Research
Investigators at the Channing Division of Network Medicine (CDNM) have built a comprehensive research strategy to:
- Study the epidemiology (nutritional, lifestyle, and pharmacological risk factors) of POAG and XFG
- Study the heterogeneity of POAG by identifying unique determinants of subtypes of POAG defined by IOP and VF patterns
- Identify the metabolomic and genetic determinants of POAG and XFG