Associations of smoking and alcohol consumption with the development of open angle glaucoma

The associations of alcohol consumption and smoking with the development of perimetric glaucoma was investigated in patients with suspected glaucoma. Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients suspected to have glaucoma enrolled in the Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study (DIGS) and the African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study (ADAGES). 825 eyes of 610 patients with glaucoma suspect eyes with normal visual fields (VF) at baseline were followed over an average of 9 years from the DIGS and ADAGES studies.
Development of glaucoma was defined as occurrence of three consecutive abnormal VF tests during follow-up. The research investigated the lifestyle-related factors associated with development of VF loss over time.
VF tests were abnormal three times in a row in 235 (28.5%) eyes. Alcohol consumption was associated with a higher risk of developing glaucoma (HR 1.57, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.38). In men, the risk of developing glaucoma in alcohol drinkers (HR 1.92, 95% CI 1.00 to 3.68) was greater than non-alcohol drinkers. In individuals of African descent, the risk of developing glaucoma in alcohol drinkers (HR 1.79, 95% CI 1.02 to 3.15) was greater than non-alcohol drinkers. Age was a modifier of the relationship between smoking and glaucomatous VF defects. The risk of developing glaucoma in smokers (HR 1.73, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.72) was greater than never smokers after adjustment for confounding factors in older patients (age >61 years).
Alcohol consumption was associated with an increased risk of developing glaucoma, particularly in men and individuals of African descent. The risk of developing glaucoma among smokers suspected of having glaucoma was influenced by age, with older individuals having a higher risk than younger people.
Source: Mahmoudinezhad G, Nishida T, Weinreb RN, Baxter SL, Chang AC, Nikkhoy N, Walker E, Liebmann JM, Girkin CA, Moghimi S. Associations of smoking and alcohol consumption with the development of open angle glaucoma: a retrospective cohort study. BMJ Open. 2023 Oct 4;13(10):e072163.