IS GLAUCOMA HEREDITARY?
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Is glaucoma hereditary? Glaucoma can have a genetic component, meaning there is a genetic predisposition to developing the disease. However, having a family member with glaucoma does not guarantee that other relatives will also develop it, as multiple genes and environmental factors are involved, including older age, race, prolonged steroid use and smoking.
Glaucoma is a disease that damages the eye's optic nerve. It is most commonly associated with raised intraocular pressure. It is usually asymptomatic in its early stages, although it can progress slowly over time and cause loss of peripheral vision, which is why it is known as the “silent thief of sight”
Diagnosing hereditary glaucoma requires a comprehensive eye examination, including measurement of eye pressure, assessment of the drainage angle, measurement of the thickness
of the cornea, and examination of the optic nerve's structure and function using optical coherence tomography and visual field testing respectively.
In addition to relatives of patients with glaucoma, there are other risk factors for developing it.
Risk factors
- over 60 years of age
- African, Hispanic or Asian ancestry
- raised intraocular pressure
- high myopia
- previous eye diseases
- prolonged steroid use
- a thin cornea
- diabetes, ocular hypertension, cardiovascular or autoimmune diseases.
We can therefore conclude that it is important for people with a family history of glaucoma and/or other risk factors to have regular ophthalmic examinations so that the disease can be detected in its early stages and appropriate treatment received if necessary.
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