Maine Ophthalmologists on Glaucoma & Metabolic Syndrome

Maine Ophthalmologists and Glaucoma Specialists commented on glaucoma risk and metabolic syndrome. Reporting in the July 2011 publication Ophthalmology, the official journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, researchers suggested that the risk of developing Open Angle Glaucoma (OAG) may be increased if you suffer from Metabolic Syndrome. “We know that patients with diabetes mellitus, systemic arterial hypertension or high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia or high cholesterol and triglycerides and obesity have elevated risks of developing open angle glaucoma,” noted Maine Glaucoma Specialist Samuel Solish, M.D. of Eyecare Medical Group in Portland, ME. “The fact that the researchers concluded that since approximately one-fifth of the U.S. population has metabolic syndrome and that both metabolic syndrome and open angle glaucoma increase in prevalence with age, and this suggests that as the U.S. population ages, the disease burden of OAG may increase in the coming years is not surprising," commented Glaucoma Specialist Robert Daly, M.D.

The authors performed statistical analysis to determine patients' risk of developing OAG in conjunction with individual and combined types of metabolic syndrome. Data were adjusted for social and demographic factors, systemic medical conditions and other ocular diseases. The adjusted data showed that subjects with diabetes alone had a 35% increased risk of developing OAG, and those with hypertension alone had a 17% increased risk. Those with diabetes and hypertension combined had a 48% risk. Those with hyperlipidemia alone had a 5% decreased risk. Obese subjects had a 14% increased risk. Patients with diabetes, hyperlipidemia and hypertension combined had a 26% increased risk and the risk of developing OAG were higher in African Americans, Latinos and Asian Americans than in Caucasians, the authors reported.

If you or someone you know is concerned about glaucoma, glaucoma risk or metabolic syndrome please feel free to schedule an appointment at Eyecare Medical Group in Portland Maine by calling 888-374-2020, visiting www.eyecaremed.com or facebook.com/eyecaremedicalgroup.

Eyecare Medical Group is a leading ophthalmology practice staffed by a team of eye care specialists in Portland, ME including eye doctors who are fellowship trained glaucoma specialists, retina specialists, cornea specialists and cataract and lens implant specialists-all board certified Ophthalmologists-as well as Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants, (IOL), laser vision correction such as LASIK, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetic retinopathy and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma.

Eyecare Medical Group is conveniently located for patients from throughout Maine including Auburn, Augusta, Bangor, Bath, Berwick, Biddeford, Bridgeton, Brunswick, Cape Neddick, Casco Bay, Cumberland Center, Eliot, Freeport, Gardiner, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Kittery, Lewiston, Old Orchard Beach, Sanford, Scarborough, South Portland, Springvale, Topsham, Waterville, Westbrook, Winslow, Wiscasset, Yarmouth, Portland, Skowhegan and York Maine.