GPs role in increasing diagnosis of glaucoma
A significant challenge of glaucoma is a lack of early symptoms; however GPs can play a key role in diagnosing and treating patients.
GPs can identify familial risk, so asking patients over 40 years of age if they have a relative with glaucoma will help immensely with diagnosis. A patient with a first-degree relative with glaucoma has a 23% change of being affected themselves.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/limit_height/public/documents/eye_chart_0.jpg?itok=f176Y5mY)
Australia is home to intense research into glaucoma and has played a role in identifying many common genetic variants of the disease. To read more about Australia’s role in treating glaucoma in MJA Insight, click here.