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Glaucoma is a major public health concern and a leading cause of blindness. Globally, it is estimated that nearly 80 million people are currently living with glaucoma. In the United States alone, approximately 3 million people have been diagnosed with the condition. These numbers are expected to rise significantly as the global population gets older.
read more about glaucoma diagnoses per year ...The number of people with glaucoma is growing. Experts predict that by the year 2040, the number of people with glaucoma worldwide will increase to over 111 million. This sharp rise is largely because people are living longer. As the number of older adults increases, the number of glaucoma diagnoses follows the same trend.
The most alarming statistic about glaucoma is the number of people who do not know they have it. Research consistently shows that about 50% of people with glaucoma are undiagnosed. Because the disease often has no early symptoms, millions of people are losing their vision without realizing it. This means the actual number of people with the disease is likely double the official diagnosed count.
Glaucoma affects certain groups more than others. In the U.S., it is the leading cause of blindness for African Americans. Data shows that African Americans are 6 to 8 times more likely to go blind from glaucoma than Caucasians. The risk also increases with age. While it affects about 1 in 200 people under age 50, it rises to 1 in 10 for people over the age of 80.
The high number of diagnoses creates a large financial burden. The U.S. economy spends an estimated $2.9 billion every year on direct costs for glaucoma treatment. This includes money spent on eye exams, prescription eye drops, laser treatments, and surgeries. This cost is expected to grow as the number of diagnosed cases continues to climb.
Yes. The rate is increasing steadily. This is primarily because the "baby boomer" generation is aging. Since age is the biggest risk factor, an older population means more glaucoma cases.
Because of their large populations, India and China have the highest absolute numbers of glaucoma cases. Together, they account for a significant portion of the global total.
Despite modern treatments, blindness still occurs. It is estimated that 10% of people with glaucoma who receive proper treatment will still experience loss of vision. Globally, about 4.5 million people are blind due to glaucoma.
Because 50% of cases are undiagnosed, you cannot wait for symptoms. You should follow the recommended exam schedule based on the data. If you are under 40, get an exam every 2 to 4 years. If you are over 60 or have a family history, you should get an exam every year. Early detection is the only way to lower these statistics.