Sigridur Oskarsdottir

My research aims at investigating the need of improved case finding of individuals with undiagnosed glaucoma in the community or at high risk of developing glaucoma. This is important since half of all individuals with glaucoma are undiagnosed and screening methods for glaucoma are yet impractical and expensive. 

In my research, I have access to a database from a large screening performed in Malmö from 1991 to 1997 involving about 33.000 individuals. I will use the data to find the prevalence of undetected glaucoma relative to certain well known risk factors and examine the severity of the disease at detection. Advanced disease at presentation is the most important risk factor for glaucoma blindness. I will also study the lifetime risk of glaucoma blindness in individuals with known risk factors for the disease. The information might be used when gathering new material with the aim to improve the detection and care of individuals at high risk of glaucoma.

My studies will provide information that can be used to improve risk evaluation in a primary eye care setting, i.e. optician/optometrist’s office or family doctor/primary care, and thus enhance the quality of referral.