Epidemiology

An estimated 64 million people have glaucoma worldwide, of whom approximately 11% have moderate-to-severe vision impairment (MSVI) or blindness.[2][3]​ The two main types of glaucoma, open-angle and closed-angle glaucoma, account for about half of all cases.[4]

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness and the second leading cause of irreversible MSVI.[5][6]​​​ Estimates suggest that vision impairment could have been prevented, or has yet to be addressed, in 7.7 million cases globally.[5]

Open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma in Western countries.[4] In the US, it affects 9 in 10 people with glaucoma.[7]

Open-angle glaucoma is the main irreversible cause of blindness in black people.[8][9][10]​​​​​​​​ Prevalence of open-angle glaucoma is threefold higher in African-American and Hispanic people of Mexican ancestry compared with non-Hispanic white people.[8][11]​​[12]

Primary open-angle glaucoma is prevalent in Africa (4.2%) and in Latin America/Caribbean (3.65%).[3] 

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