Why is understanding inherited risk important for Glaucoma?
The discovery of glaucoma genes provides a method for early detection of glaucoma. Genetic testing is capable of identifying those at highest risk for developing glaucoma. Such patients would include family members of patients with known glaucoma gene defects and members of families with a strong history of inherited glaucoma. However, depending on the population, only about 10 – 30% of all glaucoma patients have the glaucoma LOXL1 gene defect. About 25 % of the general populations tested so far are positive for the test which implies that there must be other, inherited and/or environmental factors involved in the development of the disease, even though the mutations identified seem to be present in over in 99 % of exfoliative glaucoma cases. For these reasons, glaucoma gene testing of those who are at high risk for developing glaucoma may be of value.
The discovery of glaucoma genes provides a method for early detection of glaucoma. Genetic testing is capable of identifying those at highest risk for developing glaucoma. Such patients would include family members of patients with known glaucoma gene defects and members of families with a strong history of inherited glaucoma. However, depending on the population, only about 10 – 30% of all glaucoma patients have the glaucoma LOXL1 gene defect. About 25 % of the general populations tested so far are positive for the test which implies that there must be other, inherited and/or environmental factors involved in the development of the disease, even though the mutations identified seem to be present in over in 99 % of exfoliative glaucoma cases. For these reasons, glaucoma gene testing of those who are at high risk for developing glaucoma may be of value. Back to top of page Who might benefit from having this test and why? Those at highest risk would include family members of patients wit
