vol1 - Page 200

 frequently among persons of color. 9LII/ Persons of African
 ancestry, for examplew are more likely to suffer from glaucoma
 than individuals of European ancestry_ -_/
 Finaliy_ there is a strong age component associated
 with glaucoma. Glaucoma is generally considereda disease which
 only affects older persons or much less frequently, new-born
 infants. Until very recently, the presence of glaucoma in per_
 sons under 50 years of age was believed to be rare. It is now
 ;>
 .... obvious this _oonventional wisdom # is misinformed and that
 glaucoma afflicts a larger number of persons under 30 years of
 age than was once assumed. For examples three of the glaucoma
 patients who testified in this proceeding -- Edward Cart, Edward
 Wallace_ and Robert Randall -- developed glaucoma early in
 life. _/
 i_ In dis_assing age as a factor, Dro John Merritt
 reports Ubetween 20% and 25% of all patients with primary open
 _17/ Affidavit of Dro John Merritts _ i0. _9___Ig__ACT Officia_
 State Reports, Vol. II_ Exhibit I0_ New Jersey Glaucoma Protocol
 at 9 (quoting _ The National Eye Institutes National
 Institutes of Healths Public Health Se_rice_ Washington_ DoC._
 November, 1979, p. i). _Recent evidence also indicates glaucoma
 is more prevalent, begins earlier in life, and progresses faster
 among Blacks than among other peopie_ m /_. at 19_
 418/ Affidavit of Dr. John Merritt_ _ Ii (experience confirms
 that glaucoma is approximately eight times more common among
 black males than among whites). Cross_examination of Dr. John
 Merritt, Tro i0-176 & 10-177o
 •i_/ Se_ Affidavit of Edward Cart, _ 2, 4, 19 (probably
 developed glaucoma in late teens during military service in
 Vietnam_ diagnosed at age 30); Affidavit of Edward Wallace at
 I, 3, 7 (developed juvenile open-angle glaucoma at age 21);
 Affidavit of Robert Randall, _ 39, 40 (probably developed
 glaucoma in late teens_ initially diagnosed as _eye strain"_
 positive diagnosis of glaucoma at age 24)°