Type 2 diabetes increases glaucoma risk in women

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A new report from the Nurses' Health Study reveals a link between type 2 diabetes and primary wide angle glaucoma.
Around two million people in the US suffer from primary open angle glaucoma, which is one of the leading causes of vision loss. Now a team at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary reveal that type 2 diabetes increases glaucoma risk in women. The findings come from the long-running Nurses' Health Study which involves many thousands of women enroled between 1980 and 2000. After accounting for factors like age, hypertension, body mass index and smoking, a clear and independent link between type 2 diabetes and glaucoma was uncovered.

Everyone needs to take a regular eye exam, especially as they get older. One of the tests is for glaucoma. People with diabetes are already at some risk of eye problems - the added link with glaucoma underlines the importance for this group of the regular eye exam.

Source
Ophthalmology July 2006

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