Medication For Ocular Hypertension May Reduce Glaucoma Risk.

The Los Angeles Times  (12/13, Stein) "Booster Shots" blog reports, "Medication to treat ocular hypertension may drastically cut the frequency of developing a common form of glaucoma," according to a study  published in the Archives of Ophthalmology. Researchers randomized "1,636 people...to a group that received medical treatment for ocular hypertension or to a group that was observed. After following up with the groups for an average 7.5 years, the observation group was offered medication, and both groups were followed again for an average 5.5 years." Notably, the study authors "found that taking a topical medication to treat ocular hypertension for 10 years decreased the occurrence of primary open angle glaucoma by about 50% among all those at risk, including African Americans, who have a higher incidence of the disease than do whites."