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Glaucoma breakthrough a step towards 'stopping people going blind with age', researchers say
By Selina Ross
Posted about 4 hours ago
Australian researchers studying glaucoma have had a breakthrough, identifying new genetic markers that increase the risk of developing the damaging eye disease.
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world and affects about 300,000 Australians.
The study of more than 134,000 people from Australia and around the world found 101 genetic markers that influence the fluid pressure in a person's eye (intraocular pressure).
The researchers found that 53 of the genetic markers directly increase the risk of developing glaucoma, particularly advanced glaucoma that tends to cause blindness.
More:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-28/glaucoma-breakthrough-genetic-markers-identified/10045186
