Pendleton Eye Clinic: Glaucoma Risk Factor Analysis

Glaucoma Risk-Factor Analysis

TO USE THIS ANALYSIS: Add the weighted scores assigned to each of the variables below in Table 1 (age, race, family history, and date of last exam) then determine your level of Glaucoma Risk from Table 2.

Other historical variables (high myopia or high hyperopia, systemic hypertension, steroid use, and diabetes) are also risk factors for glaucoma, although they are not strong enough to receive a weight.

Anyone with moderate to high glaucoma risk should be examined by an Ophthalmologist.

Any person over 75 years of age is at moderate to high risk for developing glaucoma!

All African-Americans over 50 years of age are at moderate to high risk for developing glaucoma!

Table 1

Variable	Category	Weight
Age	less than 50 years 50-64 years 65-74 years greater than 75 years	0 1 2 3
Race	Caucasian / other African American	0 2
Family History of Glaucoma	Negative Positive in non-first degree relatives Positive for Parents Positive for Siblings	0 0 1 2
Last Complete Eye Examination	Within past 2 years 2-5 years ago greater than 5 years ago	0 1 2

Table 2

Level of Glaucoma Risk	Weighting Score
High	4 or greater
Moderate	3
Low	2 or less

Please note: This analysis only refers to "primary open angle glaucoma" the most common type of glaucoma in the United States. There are many, many different types of glaucoma; some can even affect newborns! In other words, you can still have glaucoma even if you score a zero on this risk-factor analysis.

This analysis was created as part of Glaucoma2001; a public service project of the American Academy of Ophthalmology designed to significantly reduce the prevalence of Glaucoma by the year 2001.

This page last updated 06/14/1999