Screening relatives of patients with familial chronic open angle glaucoma

Purpose: To describe the value and the results of screening of family membe rs of individuals with familial chronic open-angle glaucoma (COAG) for the disease. Design: Cross-sectional study of families with COAG. Participants: Eighty-six individuals from 15 families with COAG. Testing: Complete ophthalmologic examinations, automated perimetry, and opt ic nerve photography. Main Outcome Measures: Disease status as glaucoma patient (at least two of three parameters abnormal: intraocular pressure, visual field, or disc appe arance), glaucoma suspect (one of three parameters abnormal), or normal. Results: Twenty-six relatives were diagnosed with COAG. The diagnosis was m ost frequently made on the basis of intraocular pressure readings and autom ated perimetry, Twenty-three relatives were classified as glaucoma suspects ; automated perimetry was the most useful modality for the detection of abn ormalities in these individuals. Siblings of COAG patients had the highest risk of COAG developing (64.7%) compared with children (13.2%) or other blo od relatives (22.2%). Conclusions: When COAG is present in more than one family member, immediate and other relatives should be evaluated for glaucoma by means of clinical examination and automated perimetry, (C) 2000 by the American Academy of Op hthalmology.