Glaucoma & Stress: Early Biomarker Link
- Chronic physiological stress may be a risk factor for glaucoma, according to a recent study by Yoo and colleagues.
- Researchers quantified chronic stress using the Seeman allostatic load scale, which includes 10 systemic biomarkers related to the autonomic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis.
- allostatic load scores were calculated using participants’ earliest and latest biomarker measurements, a median of 6.4 years before glaucoma diagnosis and 7 years after. The study revealed that...
Discover the crucial connection between chronic stress and glaucoma.A recent study reveals that heightened allostatic load, an indicator of cumulative stress, may considerably increase the risk of developing glaucoma, particularly open-angle glaucoma. Explore how researchers evaluated numerous biomarkers in participants, uncovering a correlation between increased allostatic load scores and patients later diagnosed with the eye condition. The research also highlights disparities, showing a greater risk for Black and Hispanic individuals. News Directory 3 shares this meaningful study that prompts us to consider stress as a potential factor. Discover what’s next …
Chronic Stress Linked to Increased Glaucoma Risk, Study Shows
Updated June 16, 2025
Chronic physiological stress may be a risk factor for glaucoma, according to a recent study by Yoo and colleagues. The retrospective case-control study, utilizing data from the NIH All of Us Research Program, compared 349 participants with glaucoma to 1,819 without the condition to investigate the relationship between chronic physiological stress and glaucoma.
Researchers quantified chronic stress using the Seeman allostatic load scale, which includes 10 systemic biomarkers related to the autonomic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis. These biomarkers included body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, glycated hemoglobin, C-reactive protein, glomerular filtration rate, albumin, and homocysteine.
allostatic load scores were calculated using participants’ earliest and latest biomarker measurements, a median of 6.4 years before glaucoma diagnosis and 7 years after. The study revealed that allostatic load scores were substantially higher in patients later diagnosed with glaucoma compared to those without, even 6.4 years before diagnosis. The difference persisted and grew stronger seven years after diagnosis, the researchers noted.
A multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that the odds ratio for glaucoma increased by 1.09 per point on the allostatic load scale.
Subgroup analysis showed a significant association with primary open-angle glaucoma but not primary angle-closure glaucoma.
the study also found that Black race and Hispanic ethnicity more than doubled the odds of glaucoma compared with white race. Allostatic load score mediated 7.5% of the increased risk in Black participants and 5% in Hispanic participants.
Sarah Mahmoud, from Paul Cunningham, MD LLC, noted that chronic stress, measured by the allostatic load score, was significantly higher in patients with glaucoma than those without. She added that the allostatic load score and risk of glaucoma were higher in Black and Hispanic populations.
“These findings provide insights into the potential role of chronic stress and its downstream physiologic mediators as risk factors for glaucoma,” Yoo and colleagues wrote. “they also highlight the need for additional longitudinal studies on the potential benefit of holistic, stress-reducing lifestyle interventions and the contribution of chronic stress to disparities in glaucoma prevalence.”
What’s next
Further research is needed to fully understand the relationship between glaucoma,chronic stress,and potential modifiable risk factors,and also the potential benefits of stress-reducing interventions.