Screening relatives of patients with familial chronic open angle glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the value and the results of screening of family members of individuals with familial chronic open-angle glaucoma (COAG) for the disease.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of families with COAG.


METHODS
Eighty-six individuals from 15 families with COAG.


METHODS
Complete ophthalmologic examinations, automated perimetry, and optic nerve photography.


METHODS
Disease status as glaucoma patient (at least two of three parameters abnormal: intraocular pressure, visual field, or disc appearance), glaucoma suspect (one of three parameters abnormal), or normal.


RESULTS
Twenty-six relatives were diagnosed with COAG. The diagnosis was most frequently made on the basis of intraocular pressure readings and automated perimetry. Twenty-three relatives were classified as glaucoma suspects; automated perimetry was the most useful modality for the detection of abnormalities in these individuals. Siblings of COAG patients had the highest risk of COAG developing (64.7%) compared with children (13.2%) or other blood relatives (22.2%).


CONCLUSIONS
When COAG is present in more than one family member, immediate and other relatives should be evaluated for glaucoma by means of clinical examination and automated perimetry.
Nguyen
R L
RL
The Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and the Wilmer Eye Institute, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Raja
S C
SC
Traboulsi
E I
EI
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D015351:Vision Screening / Q000379:methods*; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields