Who is at risk for glaucoma?
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Johns Hopkins Medicine answered:Glaucoma tends to run in families and it is five times more common in African-Americans than in Caucasians. However, the risk increases with age in all ethnicities. Chronic glaucoma, which affects 1 percent to 2 percent of Americans older than 40, is much more common than acute glaucoma. The chronic form develops over time, while acute glaucoma attacks suddenly.
Glaucoma tends to run in families and it is five times more common in African-Americans than in Caucasians. However, the risk increases with age in all ethnicities. Chronic glaucoma, which affects 1 percent to 2 percent of Americans older than 40,... More -
American Academy of Ophthalmology answered:Your ophthalmologist considers many kinds of information to determine your risk for developing the disease.
The most important risk factors include:
- Age
- Elevated eye pressure
- Family history of glaucoma
- African or Hispanic ancestry
- Farsightedness or nearsightedness
- Past eye injuries
- Thinner central corneal thickness
- Systemic health problems, including diabetes, migraine headaches and poor circulation
- Pre-existing thinning of the optic nerve
Your ophthalmologist will weigh all of these factors before deciding whether you need treatment for glaucoma, or whether you should be monitored closely as a potential glaucoma patient. This means your risk of developing glaucoma is higher than normal, and you need to have regular examinations to detect the early signs of damage to the optic nerve.
Your ophthalmologist considers many kinds of information to determine your risk for developing the disease. The most important risk factors include: Age Elevated eye pressure Family history of glaucoma African or Hispanic ancestry Farsightedness or... More -
Dr. Audrey Chun of The Mount Sinai Medical Center answered:About 2.2 million Americans age 40 and over have primary open-angle glaucoma, and experts predict that this number could rise by nearly 50% by the end of this decade. Some people are at higher risk of glaucoma, particularly those who are older, have a family history, have elevated Trabecular intraocular pressure, me or are Mexican Americans or African Americans (in fact, glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among African Americans).About 2.2 million Americans age 40 and over have primary open-angle glaucoma, and experts predict that this number could rise by nearly 50% by the end of this decade. Some people are at higher risk of glaucoma, particularly those who are... More -
Dr. Laura Fine answered:No one is immune to glaucoma(a group of eye diseases that cause vision loss through damage to the optic nerve), but some people are more likely than others to develop the disease. Those who face a higher risk include the following groups:
- People ages 50 and older. Like other bodily processes that wind down with age, the eye's drainage system also seems to become less efficient as people grow older.
- People who have high intraocular pressure.
- People with a family history of glaucoma. The most common type of glaucoma, open-angle glaucoma, is hereditary. People whose immediate family members have this form of the disease face a far higher risk than the general population.
- People of African American or Hispanic ancestry. Glaucoma is six to eight times more common in African Americans than in Caucasians. Hispanics also appear to be more prone to the disease than people of European ancestry.
No one is immune to glaucoma(a group of eye diseases that cause vision loss through damage to the optic nerve), but some people are more likely than others to develop the disease. Those who face a higher risk include the following groups: People... More
