Raised Intraocular pressure (eye pressure): This is the most important risk factor and most common association for glaucoma.

Age: Glaucoma is age related. Risk of Glaucoma increases with age. Around 2% of people older than 40 years have glaucoma, rising to almost 10% in people older than 75 years in white Europeans. 

Sex: Women are at increased risk of Chronic/Primary Open Angle Glaucoma(COAG)[about 80% of people with COAG are women].

Family history of Glaucoma: If one or more of your blood relatives suffer from glaucoma, you are at an increased risk to develop glaucoma yourself. The risk of glaucoma is increased by 4 to 10 fold with a family history of glaucoma.

Diabetes: If you have diabetes, you are more at risk of Glaucoma than if you did not have diabetes.

Significant Blood Loss: Acute and significant blood loss may be associated with increased risk of glaucoma.

High Myopia(shortsightedness=minus power in glasses/contact lens): This increases the risk of open angle glaucoma by two to three fold.

High Hypermetropia (farsightedness=plus power in glasses): This increases the risk of narrow angle/angle closure glaucoma.

Tilted disc: Whether congenital tilted discs or secondary to myopia, eyes with tilted discs are more at risk of glaucoma.

History of Eye injuries & Closed head trauma: Increases the risk of glaucoma

Long term use of Steroid preparations: This is associated with raised pressure in the eye in susceptible individuals called ("Steroid Responders") and may be associated with glaucoma.

Ethnicity: If you are of African-Caribbean descent you may be at increased risk of open angle glaucoma; the prevalance is 6.7% as opposed to 2% in white population. Black patients also have worse prognosis from glaucoma as they tend to be younger and with more advanced glaucoma. Progression of glaucoma is faster in black patients as is higher prevalence of blindness from glaucoma.

Whereas if you are of far-eastern descent (China, Japan, India etc) you may be at increased risk of narrow angle glaucoma. 

For private patients & referrals

Mr Akash Raj 

Consultant Ophthalmologist, Glaucoma specialist & Cataract surgeon

Stourside Hospital (part of West midland Hospital)

60 Bradley Road

Stourbridge

DY8 1UX

01384 505 183

(Alternate:

Monday Evenings)

Appointments:

01384 912966

Private Secretary: Tara Ralph : 01384 632 636 

Mr Akash Raj

Consultant Ophthalmologist, Glaucoma & Cataract specialist.

 

For NHS Referrals through GP/Opticians

Mr Akash Raj

Consultant Ophthalmologist (Glaucoma Lead)

Russells Hall Hospital

Pensnett Road

Dudley

West Midlands

DY1 2HQ

Phone: 01384456111

Extn. 5815 (NHS Secretary: Lyn Eaton)