Joint project with

Risk factors of Glaucoma

Reading time: 2 min

People with high intraocular pressure (above 21 mmHg). High intraocular pressure is one of the most significant risk factors associated with developing glaucoma and, in fact, reducing eye pressure is the only treatment with proven efficacy in curbing the progression of any type of glaucoma. Having said that, high pressure does not equate to a diagnosis of glaucoma, as not all patients with high intraocular pressure necessarily have glaucoma.

Aged 60 years or more. Age is also a major risk factor for developing glaucoma. The prevalence of glaucoma approximately doubles for every decade over the age of 40. As eye tissues age it can play an important role in terms of increasing a person’s predisposition to glaucoma.

Myopia. Patients with myopia of greater than 5 dioptres are three times more likely to develop glaucoma.

Thin cornea. Patients whose eye has a thin wall (cornea) face a greater risk.

Family history. Having a family history multiplies by 4 the risk of developing the disease, and by 8-10 in the case that the relatives are of the first degree (father, mother or brother).

Skin type. Patients of African or Afro-Caribbean descent have a 6 times greater risk of suffering glaucoma.

Circulation changes. Some vascular factors such as low blood pressure, uncontrolled high blood pressure, migraines or sleep apnoea are associated with certain types of glaucoma.

Causes of glaucoma

As explained earlier, the most common type of glaucoma (primary open-angle glaucoma) involves a problem with the eye’s filter (the trabecular meshwork), wherein the internal fluid cannot drain from the eye correctly. Although the filter is open, it does not work properly, yet even today the cause remains unknown, which is why it is called primary.

Approximately 70% of cases of glaucoma are diagnosed with intraocular pressures above normal levels (greater than 21 mmHg). Contrastingly, the pressure is not elevated in 30% of cases at the time of diagnosis.

Substantiated information by:

Elena Fraga Pumar Optometrist Ophthalmology Department

Elena Milla Griñó Ophthalmologist Ophthalmology Department

Marta Pazos López Ophthalmologist Ophthalmology Department

Published: 19 October 2018
Updated: 19 October 2018

The donations that can be done through this webpage are exclusively for the benefit of Hospital Clínic of Barcelona through Fundació Clínic per a la Recerca Biomèdica and not for BBVA Foundation, entity that collaborates with the project of PortalClínic.

Receive the latest updates related to this content.