Does Glaucoma Run in Your Family? Here’s What You Should Know

Glaucoma can rob your vision without any warning. Often, people do not notice symptoms until significant damage has occurred. If you have someone in your family with glaucoma, your risk increases. However, many develop glaucoma with no known family history. Understanding this can help protect your vision.
 

The Family Connection — Real but Complex

It’s true that glaucoma can run in families, but the connection is complex. Glaucoma is not inherited the same way as traits like eye color. Specific genes may increase your risk, but other factors trigger the disease. Many people with a family history of glaucoma have undiagnosed relatives. Older generations rarely underwent regular eye exams, so glaucoma could have gone unnoticed.
 

Why You Might Be the “First” in Your Family to Develop Glaucoma

Here are some reasons you could be the first in your family to be diagnosed with glaucoma:
 

• Undiagnosed Relatives — In the past, many people lacked access to eye screenings, which may have resulted in missed diagnoses of glaucoma.
• Late Onset - Glaucoma symptoms often appear after childbearing years, so the disease might not show up until later.
• Gene Carriers — Some relatives carry genetic markers for glaucoma but do not develop the disease.
• Other Triggers — Conditions like diabetes, past injuries, or medications can increase your risk, regardless of family history.
• Different Types of Glaucoma — You may have secondary glaucoma, which is not genetic and could be caused by other factors.

Key Risk Factors Beyond Family History

While family history is a significant factor, there are other key risk factors for developing glaucoma:
 

• Age — The chances of getting glaucoma increase significantly after age 60.
• Ethnicity — People of African or Caribbean descent are four times more likely to develop glaucoma. Asians tend to get angle-closure glaucoma, while Hispanic populations are at a higher risk, too.
• Medical Conditions — Diabetes doubles the risk. People with severe nearsightedness are also at higher risk. Long-term steroid use raises eye pressure, increasing glaucoma risk.

Symptoms Often Arrive Too Late

One frustrating aspect of glaucoma is that symptoms often appear too late. Early stages rarely cause pain or noticeable changes in vision. Peripheral vision gradually fades, which is hard to notice. Central vision remains clear until the disease has advanced significantly.
 

Routine eye exams and pressure checks are critical. If you wait for symptoms, irreversible damage may have already occurred. By the time you notice changes, glaucoma may be at an advanced stage.
 

Is Genetic Testing for Glaucoma Available?

Currently, there is no genetic test that can accurately predict glaucoma. Over 120 genes are linked to the disease, but the relationship between genes and environmental factors is not fully understood. Clinical eye exams remain the best method for detecting glaucoma early. If glaucoma runs in your family, tell your eye doctor so they can take extra care when screening you.
 

Start the Conversation Now

Talk to your aging parents about their eye health. Ask about glaucoma or blindness in the family. Share your diagnosis with your siblings and children. Open conversations about eye health can help protect future generations. Glaucoma may run in your family, but knowledge and action are even more powerful.
 

For more on glaucoma, visit Eye Care Associates in San Bernardino. Our office is in San Bernardino, California. Call (909) 316-2100 to book an appointment today.

https://glaucoma.uk/blog-category-blog/if-glaucoma-is-genetic-and-runs-in-families-why-am-i-the-first-person-in-my-family-to-have-the-disease/

https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/glaucoma-hereditary