Who is at risk for glaucoma?

American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmart

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.

HealthyWomen

Although anyone can get glaucoma, the risk is higher for those over age 60, those who have a family history of the condition and African Americans. Older Hispanics/Latinos are also at elevated risk, the highest prevalence being among those of Mexican descent.

Other risk factors include:

diabetes
nearsightedness, called myopia
regular, long-term corticosteroid use, particularly if in the form of eyedrops
previous eye injury

Another risk factor for glaucoma is high pressure within the eye. Pressure in the eye is known as intraocular pressure. However, it is a common misconception that having high intraocular pressure means you have glaucoma. In fact, you can have high intraocular pressure, known as ocular hypertension, and not have glaucoma. Whether you develop glaucoma depends on how much pressure your optic nerve -- the bundle of 1.2 million nerve fibers that transmits images from the eye to the brain -- can take without being damaged.

Continue Learning about Glaucoma Causes and Risk Factors

Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.