Epidemiology

Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness in adults in the UK and Ireland after age related macular degeneration (1)

• around 480,000 people in England have chronic open angle glaucoma
  • in white Europeans - it is seen in about 1 in 50 people above 40 years and 1 in 10 people above 75 years
  • in people of African-Caribbean origin it may be more frequently seen (2)
• other types are less common
  • acute angle closure glaucoma may be seen in around 1 in 1000 in caucasian people
  • acute angle closure glaucoma is more common in Asians with 1 in 100 being affected (2)

Glaucoma is responsible for blindness in around 6.7 million people worldwide making it the second most common cause of bilateral blindness (3)

Reference:

• 1. Burr JM et al. The clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of screening for open angle glaucoma: a systematic review and economic evaluation. Health Technol Assess. 2007;11(41):iii-iv, ix-x, 1-190
• 2. NHS choices. Glaucoma
• 3. Americal Optometric Association (AAO) 2010. Optometric clinical practice guideline. Care of the patient with open angle glaucoma