Not only are blacks at extremely high risk for the potentially blinding pressure within the eye that characterizes glaucoma, but they also experience more aggressive forms of the disease, said Lynch, associate professor of ophthalmology at the School of Medicine, chief of ophthalmology at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center and a council member of the Georgia Society of Ophthalmology.
She and other members of the society's governing council met with the Black Congressional Caucus of the Georgia legislature on Jan. 26 to emphasize the importance of education and early detection of glaucoma in African-Americans.
"We need to heighten awareness among members of the African-American community about this potentially blinding yet preventable disease," Lynch said. "People may have glaucoma and not know it because symptoms only become apparent once the disease has progressed. Getting a simple glaucoma test is simple -- and can be sight-saving."
Researchers do know that the racial disparity in glaucoma incidence cannot be attributed to lack of access to medical care or insurance, as is sometimes the reason for disparities in incidence of other diseases. They also know that if caught early enough, much of the vision damage associated with the condition can be stalled or halted.
Lynch and her colleagues are gathering important information on glaucoma in African-Americans through Emory's participation in two of the largest federal glaucoma studies in the nation. The Emory group has recruited more patients for the multi-center Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study than any other participating medical center. The group also is studying patients with increased pressure within the eye who have not yet developed glaucoma symptoms as part of the Ocular Hypertension (high blood pressure) Treatment Study (OHTS). Both studies are funded by the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health. Those interested in participating in the OHTS program may call 248-4134.
-- Lorri Preston