Medical research identifies new links to glaucoma risk and eye pressure

Recent medical research has identified new links and biological mechanisms related to glaucoma, a leading cause of permanent blindness.

A large study conducted by researchers from Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London suggests that calcium channel blockers (CCBs), a common class of blood pressure medication, may be associated with an increased risk of glaucoma. After analyzing health data from over 427,000 adults, researchers found that CCB users were more likely to develop the disease compared to those on other types of blood pressure medicine. While the study does not prove causation, it suggests that patients on these medications may benefit from more frequent eye examinations.

In a separate study, researchers at Kyushu University identified a molecular pathway that explains why intraocular pressure (IOP) typically rises at night. The study found that the neurotransmitter norepinephrine increases levels of a molecule called RHOB in the eye's trabecular meshwork. This process weakens the eye's drainage function, leading to higher pressure. This discovery could lead to new methods for early glaucoma detection and treatments that target RHOB to control eye pressure.