Researchers at the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax are trying to improve glaucoma diagnostics and outcomes by studying volunteers as part of a research study.
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of non-reversible blindness and affects more than half a million Canadians, but doctors say it's difficult to diagnose early on because there are few warning signs.
“My research really focuses on trying to identify which types of glaucoma patients need higher vigilance compared to the vast majority of them who fortunately don't develop visual disabilities in their lifetime,” says Dr. Balwantray Chauhan, glaucoma researcher at the QEII Health Sciences Centre.
Glaucoma damages the eye's optic nerve. Dr. Chauhan’s research focuses on why the nerve gets damaged by glaucoma and the best ways to monitor how the disease is progressing.
“We haven't built the complete picture of why glaucoma occurs. We do know that it's related to the pressure inside the eye, but the pressure can be low and still be damaging and the pressure can be high and not damaging,” says Chauhan.
People who have a family member with glaucoma are two to four times more likely to get the disease themselves. Race is also a factor, but glaucoma is mostly age related.
“The likelihood of having glaucoma at the age of 70 or more is probably about four or five times higher than what it is at the age of 40 or more,” says Chauhan.
When patients show symptoms the disease is often more advanced. For years, Dr. Chauhan has been tracking patient's eye sight progress, tying to make some connections.
Retired Halifax broadcasting legend Don Tremaine has been taking part in the study every six months over the last four years.
“I got the idea that perhaps this wasn't as well-known as it should be and I thought if I can do anything to help,” says Tremaine.
Tremaine’s optometrist saw some abnormalities in his eyes and recommended that he see Dr. Chauhan, even though he had not been diagnosed with glaucoma.
“Some of the discoveries that we and others have made have enabled clinicians to be able to diagnose the disease much more accurately,” says Chauhan.
Dr. Chauhan’s work has not gone unnoticed. Last fall, he received an award from the Alcon Research Institute for his outstanding research in glaucoma.
