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Clinical trials: where to find them
Clinical trials are the main way that researchers discover whether preventive strategies and treatments are safe and effective. Participating in a trial can help you learn more about your specific situation and may lead to new knowledge and help for others.
To learn more and find out about trials that may be open to participants, visit the Web sites of the National Institutes of Health and the National Eye Institute.
Support groups and advocacy organizations
The Glaucoma Research Foundation: This organization funds research on glaucoma and offers clear, easy-to-understand information about the disease and ways it may be treated. Call (800) 826-6693.
American Academy of Ophthalmology: The professional organization of the physicians who treat glaucoma provides information about the disease and treatments and links to the Eye Smart Campaign, which aims to educate people about how to maintain healthy eyes.
The Glaucoma Foundation: The group, dedicated to spurring research on glaucoma and educating people about the disease, offers clear information about types of glaucoma and publishes a biannual newsletter, Eye to Eye. The Web site also has an extensive listing of links to other vision- and blindness-related organizations.
The Glaucoma Service Foundation to Prevent Blindness: The foundation is affiliated with the glaucoma service of the Wills Eye Institute in Philadelphia, the largest glaucoma diagnosis and treatment center in the country. The organization provides information for patients as well as support to patients and their families through an online chat room. Call (215) 928-3190.
Further reading: prevention measures
Passo, M.S. et al. "Exercise conditioning and intraocular pressure," American Journal of Ophthalmology, vol. 103, p. 754, June 1987. This study and the next highlight the potential benefit of exercise in reducing intraocular pressure.
Passo, M.S. et al. "Exercise training reduces intraocular pressure among subjects suspected of having glaucoma," Archives of Ophthalmology, August 1991, p. 1096.
Heijl, A. et al. "Reduction of intraocular pressure and glaucoma progression: results from the Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial," Archives of Ophthalmology, vol. 120, p. 1268, October 2002. This study compared newly diagnosed glaucoma patients who were treated for elevated eye pressure with those who went without treatment. It found that treating eye pressure slowed progression of the disease.
Ritch, R., "Potential role for ginkgo biloba extract in the treatment of glaucoma." Medical Hypotheses, February 2000, vol. 54, p. 221.
Further reading: genetics
Thorleifsson, Gudmar et al, "Common sequence variants in the LOXL1 gene confer susceptibility to exfoliation glaucoma," Science, vol. 317, p. 1397, Sept. 7, 2007. This study found a marker on the 15th chromosome associated with heightened risk for exfoliation glaucoma.