Cockroach Allergens May Increase Glaucoma Risk

Exposure to cockroaches and cats may increase the risk for glaucoma, new research shows. People with glaucoma had significantly higher levels of immunoglobulin E, a type of allergic antibody, compared to people without glaucoma. The tests showed that it is specifically cockroach and cat allergens that increased the probability of glaucoma-there was no increase of risk with dog allergens. These findings raise the possibility that the immune system plays a role in glaucoma. The study was published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology.