September 29, 2022
Keio University School of Medicine
A research group led by Professor Kazuno Negishi and Assistant Professor Akiko Hanyuda of the Keio University School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Associate Professor Jae Hee Kang of Brigham and Women's Hospital in the US, and Chair Professor Louis Pasquale of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in the US, used epidemiological data from the Nurses’ Health Study, the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, and the Nurses’ Health Study II, which are among the world's largest prospective cohort studies. After following approximately 200,000 individuals for over 28 years, the group revealed that long-term alcohol consumption may increase the risk of developing exfoliation glaucoma (including suspected cases).
Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, but no effective preventive or therapeutic methods have been established other than lowering intraocular pressure. In the United States, there are over 3 million patients, and the economic loss due to glaucoma amounts to approximately $3 billion annually. Exfoliation glaucoma is a secondary glaucoma to exfoliation syndrome and has traditionally been known to be difficult to improve with medication and to progress rapidly. Exfoliation syndrome is known to involve the overproduction and accumulation of abnormal extracellular matrix within the eye, and it is possible that various genetic and environmental factors contribute complexly to its onset.
The research group prospectively examined the association with the incidence of exfoliation glaucoma (including suspected cases) by collecting information on dietary and lifestyle habits every 2 to 4 years through self-administered questionnaires from healthcare professionals aged 40 and over residing in the United States, and integrating this with data from ophthalmic medical records. The results showed that for every 10g increase in daily alcohol consumption (ethanol equivalent), the incidence of exfoliation glaucoma increased by 9%. Furthermore, when examined by type of alcoholic beverage, it was found that for the same amount of alcohol, the risk of exfoliation glaucoma (including suspected cases) increased in the order of whiskey, wine, and beer. On the other hand, red wine showed a tendency to decrease the risk. This study not only clarifies the potential contribution of long-term alcohol consumption to the onset of eye diseases but is also expected to contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiology of exfoliation syndrome and its prevention.
The results of this research were published in the online edition of the international academic journal Ophthalmology on August 27, 2022 (US Eastern Time).
For the full press release, please see below.