In this large cohort of POAG patients, males (n = 52) and females (n = 53), and African Americans (n = 53) and Caucasians (n = 50), all showed significantly increased median levels of AH GDF15 (p < 0.001) compared to their respective non-glaucoma (cataract) controls (males, n = 53; females, n = 64; African Americans, n = 16; Caucasians, n = 94). This evidence concerns the gene GDF15 and open-angle glaucoma.