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Glaucoma Risk Factors: What You Should Know
Age and Ethnic Background
Two of the most significant glaucoma risk factors are age and ethnic background, and neither can be changed. What can be changed is how proactively you get screened. Understanding these factors helps both patients and our eye doctors plan appropriately timed, thorough exams.
Age is the single greatest risk factor for glaucoma. As the eye ages, the drainage system that regulates internal pressure can slow down, causing pressure to build. People over 60 face the highest general risk, though certain groups face elevated risk starting earlier in life. Even those who had normal pressure readings in their 40s should continue getting checked regularly, since risk grows with each passing decade.
Glaucoma does not affect all populations equally. African Americans are significantly more likely to develop glaucoma than white Americans and tend to develop it earlier, often around a decade sooner. Hispanic and Latino individuals also face elevated rates, particularly later in life. These differences arise from a combination of genetic factors, eye anatomy, and variations in access to care.
If you belong to a higher-risk group, sharing your background with our eye care team helps us tailor your exam schedule and testing approach accordingly.
The cornea is the clear, curved front surface of the eye. Its thickness can affect both glaucoma risk and the accuracy of pressure measurements. Thinner corneas are associated with a higher risk of developing glaucoma and can also cause pressure readings to appear lower than they actually are, potentially masking a problem.
A simple, painless test called pachymetry measures corneal thickness. Our eye doctors use this measurement to interpret pressure readings more accurately and adjust your care plan if needed.
Family History and Genetics
Your family history is one of the strongest predictors of glaucoma risk. Because the disease has a clear inherited component, knowing your relatives' eye health history is genuinely useful medical information. Our team always asks about family history and uses that information directly when designing your screening schedule.
Having a parent or sibling with open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of the disease, raises your own risk substantially. The more family members affected, the higher that risk becomes. This is one reason our eye doctors ask about glaucoma in your family at every comprehensive visit. That single piece of information can meaningfully change how often we screen you and which tests we prioritize.
Several specific genes have been linked to glaucoma. The myocilin gene is the most well-established connection, particularly in cases that begin in younger adults. Other gene variations contribute to risk later in life. Genetic testing is not yet a routine part of glaucoma care for most people, but it may be worth discussing in families where multiple members have been diagnosed, especially at younger ages.
Anyone with a close relative who has glaucoma should begin comprehensive eye exams well before the typical recommended starting age of 40. These exams should include a dilated view of the optic nerve, a pressure measurement, and a visual field test to check peripheral vision. Starting early gives our eye doctors a healthy baseline to compare against in future visits, which is one of the most valuable tools in early detection.
Medical Conditions and Medications
Certain health conditions and medications can affect eye pressure and glaucoma risk in ways that are not always obvious. Sharing your full medical and medication history with our team helps us watch for pressure changes and adjust your screening schedule when needed.
Diabetes increases the risk of several serious eye conditions, and glaucoma is among them. Adults with diabetes are approximately twice as likely to develop glaucoma compared to those without the condition. Good blood sugar management supports overall eye health, but it does not eliminate glaucoma risk entirely. People with diabetes benefit from pairing their routine medical care with regular comprehensive eye exams.
High eye pressure, known medically as ocular hypertension, is the one known glaucoma risk factor that can be directly treated. Lowering pressure through prescription eye drops, laser treatment such as Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT), or other procedures reduces the risk of developing glaucoma and slows damage in those who already have it. Not everyone with elevated pressure will develop glaucoma, but reducing it lowers the odds significantly.
Our eye doctors offer SLT as a well-established, minimally invasive laser option that can reduce eye pressure without the need for daily drops in many cases.
Steroid medications used to treat inflammation, allergies, or immune conditions can raise eye pressure as a side effect. This applies to many forms of steroids, including eye drops, skin creams, nasal sprays, inhalers, oral pills, and injections. In people who are particularly sensitive, pressure can begin rising within days of starting a steroid. Those at highest risk include people who already have glaucoma, a strong family history of the disease, high nearsightedness, diabetes, or certain connective tissue conditions.
If you are on any long-term steroid medication, our team recommends regular pressure monitoring to catch any changes early.
Several additional health factors have been connected to glaucoma risk. High myopia (significant nearsightedness) puts extra mechanical stress on the optic nerve due to the elongated shape of the eye. A history of eye injury can damage the eye's drainage tissue and raise pressure years after the original trauma. Blood pressure that drops too low, particularly overnight, may reduce blood flow to the optic nerve. Sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing repeatedly pauses during sleep, has also been studied as a possible contributing factor.
Sharing your full health picture with our eye doctors helps us identify which of these factors may apply to you and watch accordingly.
Steps You Can Take to Protect Your Vision
While some glaucoma risk factors cannot be changed, there are meaningful steps you can take to stay ahead of the disease. Being informed, staying consistent with exams, and knowing when to seek urgent care are the most important actions available to you.
Start by listing your known risk factors and bring that list to your next eye exam. Note your age, ethnic background, any family history of glaucoma, past eye injuries, current medications including steroids, and any existing conditions such as diabetes or significant nearsightedness. Keeping this list updated and sharing any changes with our team makes every visit more productive.
Screening frequency depends on your individual risk level. People with no known risk factors can often wait until age 40 for a full baseline exam. Those with one or more risk factors should start earlier and return more frequently. After age 60, annual exams are a sensible benchmark for most people. Your eye doctor will give you a personalized recommendation based on what we find and what you share with us.
Most forms of glaucoma develop slowly and silently, but certain symptoms should prompt you to contact an eye care provider right away. Sudden blurred vision, halos around lights, unexplained eye pain, nausea with eye discomfort, or a noticeable loss of side vision can all signal a rapid rise in eye pressure or worsening damage.
- Do not wait for a scheduled visit if you notice sudden vision changes
- Eye pain combined with blurred vision is always worth urgent evaluation
- If you have been told you have high eye pressure or glaucoma, keep every follow-up appointment so your treatment plan can be updated as needed
Frequently Asked Questions
These are some of the questions patients most commonly raise when learning about glaucoma risk. If your situation is not covered here, our eye doctors are glad to go through your specific concerns at your next visit.
Certain habits may offer modest support for eye health. Regular aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, has been associated with small reductions in eye pressure in some studies. Maintaining a healthy weight, managing blood sugar, and avoiding smoking all support the blood vessels that nourish the optic nerve. No lifestyle change eliminates glaucoma risk on its own, but these habits work well alongside regular medical monitoring and, when needed, treatment.
Yes, and this is an important point that surprises many patients. Normal-tension glaucoma causes optic nerve damage even when pressure measurements fall within the standard range. It is more common in certain ethnic groups and in people with a family history of the disease. This is one reason a full exam that includes optic nerve imaging and a visual field test is more reliable than a pressure check alone, especially in higher-risk individuals.
A thorough eye exam for children of glaucoma patients is generally recommended by the late teens or early twenties, sometimes earlier if the affected parent was diagnosed at a younger age. The goal is to establish a healthy baseline before any damage could occur. When a family pattern of early-onset glaucoma exists, starting exams earlier gives our eye doctors the best chance of detecting any changes while treatment can still make the greatest difference.
Treatment depends on the type and severity of glaucoma and typically starts with the least invasive option that can adequately control pressure. Prescription eye drops are a common first step. Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) is a widely used laser procedure that improves fluid drainage from the eye. For certain types of glaucoma, a YAG Laser Peripheral Iridotomy (YAG PI) may be recommended to open a small channel in the iris and relieve pressure. Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS), including a procedure called goniotomy, offers a surgical option with a shorter recovery than traditional glaucoma surgery. More complex cases are referred to specialists as appropriate. Our team will walk you through every option so you can make a well-informed decision.
Standard lubricating drops for dryness are generally safe and do not affect eye pressure. Redness-relief drops that work by constricting blood vessels are better used sparingly. Some over-the-counter allergy drops contain low-dose steroids that could raise eye pressure with prolonged use. Before starting any new eye drop regularly, it is worth checking the label and confirming with your eye doctor that it is appropriate for your situation.
Eye pressure naturally fluctuates throughout the day and night, and it can be slightly higher when lying flat. Sleeping with your head slightly elevated may help in some cases. Sleep apnea, a condition involving repeated breathing interruptions during sleep, has been studied as a possible contributing factor to glaucoma risk. If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea or suspect you may have it, mentioning this to our eye care team allows us to monitor your pressure with that context in mind.
Schedule Your Glaucoma Evaluation at NewView Eye Center
Whether you have a known risk factor or simply want peace of mind, our team is here to help you take the right next step. At NewView Eye Center, we combine thorough diagnostic testing with personalized care to detect glaucoma early and manage it effectively using the most current treatment options available. We welcome patients from across Northern Virginia and look forward to supporting your long-term vision health.
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