risk factors

Last reviewed 06/2022

Known risk factors for primary open angle glaucoma include:

  • intra ocular pressure (IOP) - the risk of glaucoma is 13 times higher in patients with IOP>26mmHg than people with lower IOP (1)
  • age - 0.02% at age 40-49, up to 10% at age >80
  • race - particularly people of African-Caribbean origin have five times risk of white people
  • positive family history - risk 1 in 10 in first degree relatives (2)
  • diabetes - the risk is thought to be twice in people with diabetes
  • myopia

Reference: