As a person ages, genes play a larger role in determining their risk of glaucoma, according to a recent study in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.

Specifically, the study reveals that as people grow older, having a high genetic preponderance for elevated IOP and glaucoma is a stronger predictor of both.

Regarding IOP, those younger than age 51 had an increase in pressure by an average of .95 mmHG for every standard unit increase in the genetic risk score. For those between the ages of 51-57, 58-62, and 63 and older, this increase was 1.02 mmHg, 1.18 mmHg, and 1.24 mmHg, respectively.

When it came to glaucoma, those younger than age 51 had 2.38 times higher odds of having glaucoma for every standard unit increase in their genetic risk score. For those between the ages of 51-57, 58-62, and 63 and older, this increase was 2.57 times higher, 2.80 times higher, and 2.75 times higher, respectively.

The study’s researchers arrived at these findings after analyzing patient data from the UK Biobank, which is comprised of 500,000 patients. Specifically, the researchers calculated a genetic risk score for glaucoma (multitrait glaucoma polygenic risk score) for each person based on their DNA. Then, they divided the patients into the aforementioned age groups and determined how the patients’ glaucoma genetic risk score related to their IOP, the structure of the retina, and whether they had glaucoma.

Read the full study here.