How family history may impact glaucoma risk
Have relatives with this eye disease? It may be a good idea to see an eye care provider.
People may not even know that they have glaucoma. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss or even lead to blindness.1 That’s because, in its earliest stages, glaucoma may not have any symptoms.1
Anyone can develop glaucoma. But family history may play a big role in a person’s risk.2
Understanding this connection and being proactive may help save a person’s vision. Learn more about the potential link between glaucoma and family history.
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The potential role of family history in glaucoma risk
Increased risk of glaucoma may be linked to certain members of a person’s family. Here might be a few things to know, before scheduling an appointment with an eye care provider:
- Glaucoma can be in a person’s genes. People with a parent or sibling who has glaucoma have a higher risk of developing the condition themselves.2 This can be due to the genetic predisposition that glaucoma may be inherited. (That means someone may be more likely to develop glaucoma.) And that may make regular eye exams even more important for early detection and treatment.
- It can be important to share family history. Sharing a person’s family history information with an eye care provider may be essential to early detection. This can allow health care professionals to assess a person’s risk more accurately. It may even help with care or treatment options. For example, eye care providers may recommend more frequent screening tests based on a patient’s family history.
- Glaucoma may cause irreversible vision loss. Glaucoma may be serious if a person has it. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 3 million people in the U.S. have it — and by 2050, that total could more than double.3
- Glaucoma may affect certain types of people. Besides family history, people can also be at higher risk of developing glaucoma if they’re African American, Latino or of Scandinavian descent. Glaucoma is also more common in people over the age of 60.2
What preventive steps may a person take?
If a person has a family history or other risk factors for glaucoma, they may be able to take some steps to detect glaucoma early and prevent it from progressing. Here might be a place to start:
1. Get regular vision screenings and eye exams. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends getting a baseline eye disease screening at age 40.4 Individuals who have a family history of glaucoma may be advised to begin regular vision screenings and exams before that age.
While the frequency of these exams may vary, an eye care provider can determine the best schedule. Regular checkups may help detect glaucoma in its early stages, when treatment could be most effective.
2. Ask an eye care provider about tonometry and other tests. Early detection may be key to preventing vision loss from glaucoma. Two essential tests for glaucoma detection could be tonometry and visual field tests.
Tonometry measures the pressure inside the eye, while visual field tests assess peripheral vision, which can be affected by glaucoma.5 These tests can identify changes in the eye that may indicate the presence of glaucoma, allowing for prompt intervention.
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Other potential steps to consider
Besides getting regular screenings and tests, it may be a good idea to:
- Make lifestyle changes. While there may be no way to avoid glaucoma for some people, they may make certain changes to their lifestyle to help manage risk. That could include regular exercise, a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and avoiding smoking. All can help promote eye health.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle may also help control conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, which may be associated with an increased risk of glaucoma. - Monitor eye pressure. Monitoring intraocular pressure (IOP) can be an important way to manage glaucoma. Elevated IOP may be a primary risk factor for certain types of glaucoma, and regular monitoring may help detect changes that may require treatment. Eye care providers can perform IOP measurements during routine exams.
- Use vision insurance benefits. Have a family history of glaucoma? It may be important to do frequent screenings and get comprehensive eye care. That may be much more affordable with a vision insurance plan. UnitedHealthcare Vision offers eye health–related benefits that may help cover the cost of regular eye exams, specialized tests and treatments. Using these benefits may make it easier to stay on top of eye health and manage glaucoma risk effectively.
Providers in the UnitedHealthcare Vision Network are here to help keep your vision healthy. Search now.
Sources:
- Glaucoma National Eye Institute, last updated November 2024
- Glaucoma: Family Inheritance? Glaucoma Research Foundation, January 17, 2023
- Current Glaucoma Programs Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 2024.
- Get an Eye Disease Screening at 40 American Academy of Ophthalmology, April 2024
- Testing for Glaucoma Glaucoma Research Foundation
