Glaucoma most frequently occurs in individuals over the age of 40 and is hereditary in some families. It is estimated that over 3 million Americans have glaucoma.

Thankfully rare, there are forms of congenital glaucoma where babies are born with high eye pressures that need immediate surgical treatment. Juvenile glaucoma does occur in children and teenagers but is also not common.

Anyone can get glaucoma but those at higher risk to develop glaucoma are:

• People over sixty years of age.
• People of African descent.
• Relatives of people with glaucoma.
• Very near-sighted individuals.
• Those with history of extensive steroid medication use.