The pathology of glaucoma is likely to be related to the presence and levels of selenium, according to the results of a study published in the August issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Dr R.J. Noecker and colleagues from the University of Arizona recruited 47 primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) subjects. Aqueous humour and plasma selenium were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography ion channel plasma mass spectrometry. Biological samples were collected and analysed for selenium content.

The results showed that after adjustment for common glaucoma risk factors, the odds of glaucoma in the highest tertile of plasma selenium (OR=11.3; p=0.03) and the middle tertile of aqueous humour selenium (OR=0.06; p=0.02) was significantly associated with glaucoma.

Although the authors of the study could not determine a causal pathway, their data, combined with data from other studies suggests that the pathology of glaucoma is selenium related.