GWAS for primary angle-closure glaucoma identifies loci related to ocular biometry and morphology

R Robert N. Luben M Mahantesh I. Biradar K Kelsey V. Stuart R Ruiqi Hu Z Zihan Sun Z Zheng Li N Ningli Wang T Tan Do C Chi Pui Pang M Masakazu Nakano K Kei Tashiro Y Yoko Ikeda Y Yuichi Tokuda M Masami Tanaka N Natsue Omi M Morio Ueno C Chie Sotozono S Shigeru Kinoshita K Kazuhiko Mori N Naris Kitnarong A Antonio Fea M Mônica B. Melo J José Paulo C. Vasconcellos V Vital P. Costa M Monisha E. Nongpiur C Ching Lin Ho S Shamira A. Perera J Jamie E. Craig A Antonia Kolovos A Ahmad Tajudin Liza-Sharmini E Edgar U. Leuenberger K Ki Ho Park L Lingam Vijaya R Ronnie George T Tin Aung C C. C. Khor P Paul J. Foster P Pirro Hysi A Anthony P. Khawaja

Abstract

Abstract GWAS of primary angle-closure glaucoma have identified eight loci conferring risk in Asian populations. However, it remains unclear whether the genetic risk factors for the disease are consistent across different populations. Here, we present a discovery GWAS for primary angle-closure glaucoma in Europeans using the UK Biobank. We replicate our findings in six independent European populations and compare these results with results from 14 Asian cohorts. Five genomic regions in the discovery cohort are associated at genome-wide significance, including two loci previously identified in Asian cohorts. We next meta-analyse the discovery and replication cohorts to identify six additional novel loci, all previously associated with refractive error. Mendelian randomisation provides evidence for a causal role of shorter axial length and hypermetropic refractive error on primary angle-closure glaucoma. A polygenic risk score derived from the European ancestry meta-analysis demonstrates significant associations with quantitative ocular traits – including a shallower anterior chamber and higher intraocular pressure – in the independent EPIC-Norfolk cohort. Finally, a multi-ancestry meta-analysis of all 21 European and Asian cohorts identifies 12 further novel loci. This work shows that genetic factors associated with a darker iris and hypermetropia confer risk for primary angle-closure glaucoma.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 16, Issue 1
Published November 14, 2025
ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher Nature Portfolio

Journal Info

Nature Communications

Nature Portfolio

ISSN: 2041-1723 Open Access Life Sciences

Authors (39)

R

Robert N. Luben

M

Mahantesh I. Biradar

K

Kelsey V. Stuart

R

Ruiqi Hu

Z

Zihan Sun

Z

Zheng Li

N

Ningli Wang

T

Tan Do

C

Chi Pui Pang

M

Masakazu Nakano

K

Kei Tashiro

Y

Yoko Ikeda

Y

Yuichi Tokuda

M

Masami Tanaka

N

Natsue Omi

M

Morio Ueno

C

Chie Sotozono

S

Shigeru Kinoshita

K

Kazuhiko Mori

N

Naris Kitnarong

A

Antonio Fea

M

Mônica B. Melo

J

José Paulo C. Vasconcellos

V

Vital P. Costa

M

Monisha E. Nongpiur

C

Ching Lin Ho

S

Shamira A. Perera

J

Jamie E. Craig

A

Antonia Kolovos

A

Ahmad Tajudin Liza-Sharmini

E

Edgar U. Leuenberger

K

Ki Ho Park

L

Lingam Vijaya

R

Ronnie George

T

Tin Aung

C

C. C. Khor

P

Paul J. Foster

P

Pirro Hysi

A

Anthony P. Khawaja