Week in Review: African Ancestry and Glaucoma Risk, Keratitis and Lung Cancer Treatment, AI-Based Diabetic Eye Exams in Kids

A weekly roundup of ophthalmic news from around the web.

Genetic loci link people of African ancestry to risk of POAG. A genome-wide association study that used data from 3 large cohort studies revealed previously undescribed risk genetic loci for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in people of African ancestry. These loci are mapped to the DBF4P2, ROCK1P1, and ARHGEF12 genes. People of African ancestry have a greater POAG burden than other populations, but to date few genetic studies have focused on the association between African ancestry and POAG. “Our work is an important step toward achieving future goals, including defining subgroups of disease that aid in early detection, providing the capability for early screening within families, and discovering targetable pathways for personalized therapeutic interventions,” say the authors. Cell

One potential side effect of lung cancer treatment: new-onset keratitis. Investigators studying more than 20 years of records from patients with lung cancer found that those treated with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRIs) had an increased risk of developing new-onset keratitis (HR 1.52), including keratoconjunctivitis and corneal ulcer. The highest keratitis risk was seen in those who were given afatinib. Regular screening for and prompt management of ocular issues in patients on EGFRI regimens is recommended. JAMA Ophthalmology

Children give high ratings to autonomous AI-based diabetic eye exams. The AI for Childrens’ diabetiC Eye examS Study (ACCESS) evaluated whether autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) programs could improve diabetic eye exam completion rates in children with type 1 or 2 diabetes. A group of 164 children either underwent an autonomous AI exam with no pharmacologic dilation at the point of care or were referred for standard exams from an eye care provider (control). All children in the AI group completed their exams within 6 months, whereas only 22% of the control group completed their exams, for a primary care-gap closure rate of 78%. Race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status did not affect care-gap closure rates. Ninety-six percent of children in the AI group reported satisfaction with the procedure. The authors conclude that “the availability of point-of-care AI diabetic eye exams may mitigate known screening disparities in racial/ethnic minority and under-resourced youth.” Nature Communications

City lights could put people at risk for exudative AMD. A South Korean study looked at whether exposure to residential outdoor artificial light at night could affect the risk of incident exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in adults aged ≥50 years. The greater the exposure to outdoor nighttime lighting, as measured by units of radiance, the higher the risk of exudative AMD, with the most light exposure increasing the risk by 2.17 times. The hazard ratio was greatest in urban areas; in rural areas, there was no significant link between nighttime lights and neovascular AMD. These findings add to the evidence of the overall effects of outdoor artificial light exposure on health. JAMA Network Open