The genetics of angle closure glaucoma.

ABSTRACT

Glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, can be divided into two major types primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG). PACG could lead to severe vision loss and has a high prevalence among Asian populations. The worldwide population affected by PACG is estimated to exceed 20 million by 2020. Recent studies have shown that there are at least eight genetic loci significantly associated with risk of PACG, possibly contributing to the phenotype by interacting with environmental factors. This review presents the progress that has been achieved in the genetics of PACG and its future perspectives. This article should be considered as a memorial article to honor Dr. R. Rand Allingham's remarkable contribution to genetic association studies in glaucoma. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Dr. Allingham, not only a huge loss for ophthalmology, but also loss of a dear friend. Looking back to his extraordinary career, Dr. Allingham devoted his whole life and passion into establishing the genetic basis of different forms of glaucoma such as open angle, angle closure, and exfoliation glaucoma. He had a special interest in analyses of populations from African ancestry, which greatly boosted the understanding of glaucoma genetics.