BREAST CANCER AND GLAUCOMA

 

PRE-PRINT:

Breast carcinoma is the most commonly occurring cancer among females. An estimated 2.3 million new cases of breast carcinoma are diagnosed annually worldwide. These patients have a potential risk of ocular complications, not only from the disease itself, but also due to side effects of medications such as corticosteroids and cytotoxic drugs used to treat breast cancers. [1] Metastases to the eye can affect almost every structure of the eye and adnexa, affecting vision and ocular motility from involvement of the extra-ocular muscles. Often, the ocular findings are the first indication of the disease involving the breast. [2]

Glaucoma can occur through diverse mechanisms in such patients. However, there are only a few case reports and studies available to understand the association between the two conditions. Glaucoma and breast carcinoma are two serious conditions affecting the morbidity and mortality of the affected patient. It would be an important exercise to assess the extent of association between these two conditions.

REFERENCES:

Łukasiewicz S, Czeczelewski M, Forma A, Baj J, Sitarz R, Stanisławek A. Breast Cancer-Epidemiology, Risk Factors, Classification, Prognostic Markers, and Current Treatment Strategies-An Updated Review. Cancers (Basel). 2021 Aug 25;13(17):4287.

Swampillai AJ, Booth AP, Cohen VML. Ciliary body and iris metastases with anterior chamber angle infiltration: a rare complication from invasive ductal breast cancer. J Glaucoma. 2020;29:e12-e15.

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