Genetic Cause of Form of Glaucoma Identified

(Page 2)

The condition is notoriously more difficult to treat than other forms of glaucoma, so early diagnosis would alert the physician about the possible need for surgery, Stefansson said.

"Since we now have a marker, with one genetic test, we can see whether the increased pressure in the eye is the beginning of exfoliative glaucoma," he said. "So there would be a very low threshold to go to iridectomy," which is removal of a piece of the iris.

Stefansson said deCODE hopes to have a diagnostic genetic test on the market "before the end of this year."

Beyond early diagnosis, there's the possibility of better treatment based on the genetic finding, he said. "This is an insight that allows us to go to the nature of the genetic cause," Stefansson said. "There are future potentials when it comes to developing therapy."

More information

A comprehensive guide to glaucoma is available from the U.S. National Library of Medicine.