March 1, 2010

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Christopher Girkin, M.D., professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Ophthalmology, will conduct a Congressional briefing March 11 on research examining differences in glaucoma rates between individuals of African descent and European descent.

Girkin is the lead investigator of the African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study (ADAGES), funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI), one of the National Institutes of Health.

ADAGES is identifying factors accounting for differences in glaucoma onset and rate of progression between individuals of African and European descent. African-Americans age 40 and older and all adults age 60 and older, especially Hispanics, are at greater risk for this disease, which is one of the world's primary causes of vision loss.

The Congressional briefing is one of two sponsored by the Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (AVER), detailing vision research funded by the Department of Defense and the NEI.

About the UAB Department of Ophthalmology

The UAB Department of Ophthalmology serves the eye health needs of the people of Alabama and beyond through excellence in patient care, research and education.