Singapore scientists identify new genes linked to Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma

Singapore scientists have identified three new genes associated with Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma (PACG), a leading cause of blindness in Chinese people. 

PACG affects 15 million people worldwide, 80 per cent of whom live in Asia. 

The discovery, published in the prestigious scientific journal, Nature Genetics, was conducted by scientists from the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI)/Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC), Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), National University of Singapore (NUS), National University Hospital's Department of Ophthalmology and Tan Tock Seng Hospital. 

The team of scientists led an international consortium that carried out a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 1,854 PACG cases and 9,608 controls of over five sample collections in Asia. A total of 1,293 Singaporeans with PACG and 8,025 Singaporean controls were enrolled in this study. 

Principal Investigator, Professor Aung Tin who is a Professor of Ophthalmology at NUS said the results may lead to new insights into disease understanding. The results may also open the possibility of novel treatments in the future as well as the potential of early identification of people at risk of the disease.