A study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology found an association between glaucoma, anxiety, and depression. The study looked at over 4 million patient charts between the years of 2008-2015.
Researchers found, in this group of patients, the prevalence of having both anxiety and glaucoma was 17%. Similarly, the prevalence of patients with depression and glaucoma was 22%. Of note, they found that the likelihood of having this association was not influenced by age.
The take home:
This study showed a strong association between anxiety and depression with glaucoma. Anxiety and depression can potentially impact the patients ability to follow treatment recommendations. Given this finding, the authors recommend depression and anxiety screening questionnaires for all glaucoma patients and encourage eye care providers to collaborate with psychiatrists as needed. (via)
