Glaucoma is a common cause of blindness which affects approximately 60 million people worldwide. Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXF) is an important cause of a type of glaucoma know as open angle glaucoma. This is an age related disorder that is caused by the build up of material in the tissue of the eye. PXF is a complicated disease that is influenced by both genetic and non-genetic factors. Mutations in a gene called LOXL1 have been identified as a major risk factor for PXF syndrome. Mutations may arise due to lack of oxygen in the tissue of the eye. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of genetics in the regulation of the LOXL1 gene in PXF patients.
