O número de pessoas afetadas por glaucoma no mundo é de aproximadamente 45 milhões. Um terço apresenta glaucoma primário de ângulo fechado (GPAF).[2]Quigley HA, Broman AT. The number of people with glaucoma worldwide in 2010 and 2020. Br J Ophthalmol. 2006 Mar;90(3):262-7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16488940?tool=bestpractice.com
Estima-se que metade dos casos que causam cegueira resultam de GPAF.[3]Quigley HA. Number of people with glaucoma worldwide. Br J Ophthalmol. 1996 May;80(5):389-93.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC505485/pdf/brjopthal00005-0009.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8695555?tool=bestpractice.com
A prevalência do GPAF varia entre os diferentes grupos raciais e étnicos. As taxas mais elevadas foram reportadas nas populações inuíte e asiática, e as mais baixas foram reportadas nas populações africana e europeia.[4]Bankes JL, Perkins ES, Tsolakis S, et al. Bedford glaucoma survey. Br Med J. 1968 Mar 30;1(5595):791-6.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1985686/pdf/brmedj02077-0023.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/5641484?tool=bestpractice.com
[5]Hollows FC, Graham PA. Intra-ocular pressure, glaucoma, and glaucoma suspects in a defined population. Br J Ophthalmol. 1966 Oct;50(10):570-86.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC506274/pdf/brjopthal00370-0011.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/5954089?tool=bestpractice.com
[6]Bengtsson B. The prevalence of glaucoma. Br J Ophthalmol. 1981 Jan;65(1):46-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1039411/pdf/brjopthal00181-0056.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6969603?tool=bestpractice.com
[7]Congdon N, Wang F, Tielsch JM. Issues in the epidemiology and population-based screening of primary angle-closure glaucoma. Surv Ophthalmol. 1992 May-Jun;36(6):411-23.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1589856?tool=bestpractice.com
[8]Foster PJ, Johnson GJ. Glaucoma in China: how big is the problem? Br J Ophthalmol. 2001 Nov;85(11):1277-82.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1723754/pdf/v085p01277.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11673287?tool=bestpractice.com
[9]He M, Foster PJ, Johnson GJ, et al. Angle-closure glaucoma in East Asian and European people. Different diseases? Eye. 2006 Jan;20(1):3-12.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15688051?tool=bestpractice.com
[10]Drance SM. Angle closure glaucoma among Canadian Eskimos. Can J Ophthalmol. 1973 Apr;8(2):252-4.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4707208?tool=bestpractice.com
[11]Alsbirk PH. Angle-closure glaucoma surveys in Greenland Eskimos. A preliminary report. Can J Ophthalmol. 1973 Apr;8(2):260-4.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4707210?tool=bestpractice.com
[12]Johnson GJ, Green JS, Paterson GD, et al. Survey of ophthalmic conditions in a Labrador community: II. Ocular disease. Can J Ophthalmol. 1984 Aug;19(5):224-33.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6478308?tool=bestpractice.com
[13]Johnson GJ, Foster PJ. Can we prevent angle-closure glaucoma? Eye. 2005 Oct;19(10):1119-24. Estima-se que todas as formas de GPAF contabilizam cerca de 10% dos casos de glaucoma nos EUA, mas até 50% dos casos de glaucoma na populações asiáticas. Entre a população branca da Europa e dos EUA, estima-se que a prevalência de GPAF seja de 0.04% a 0.4%.[14]Klein BE, Klein R, Sponsel WE, et al. Prevalence of glaucoma. The Beaver Dam Eye Study. Ophthalmology. 1992 Oct;99(10):1499-504.
https://www.doi.org/10.1016/s0161-6420(92)31774-9
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1454314?tool=bestpractice.com
[15]Wensor MD, McCarty CA, Stanislavsky YL, et al. The prevalence of glaucoma in the Melbourne Visual Impairment Project. Ophthalmology. 1998 Apr;105(4):733-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9544649?tool=bestpractice.com
A prevalência de GPAF na população inuíte é estimada em 2.65% a 4.8%.[10]Drance SM. Angle closure glaucoma among Canadian Eskimos. Can J Ophthalmol. 1973 Apr;8(2):252-4.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4707208?tool=bestpractice.com
[11]Alsbirk PH. Angle-closure glaucoma surveys in Greenland Eskimos. A preliminary report. Can J Ophthalmol. 1973 Apr;8(2):260-4.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4707210?tool=bestpractice.com
[12]Johnson GJ, Green JS, Paterson GD, et al. Survey of ophthalmic conditions in a Labrador community: II. Ocular disease. Can J Ophthalmol. 1984 Aug;19(5):224-33.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6478308?tool=bestpractice.com
[13]Johnson GJ, Foster PJ. Can we prevent angle-closure glaucoma? Eye. 2005 Oct;19(10):1119-24.
As mulheres têm maior probabilidade de desenvolver GAF que os homens.[16]Vajaranant TS, Nayak S, Wilensky JT, et al. Gender and glaucoma: what we know and what we need to know. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2010 Mar;21(2):91-9.
https://www.doi.org/10.1097/ICU.0b013e3283360b7e
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20051857?tool=bestpractice.com
Geralmente, o GAF se desenvolve em indivíduos com mais de 50 anos de idade.[17]American Academy of Ophthalmology. Preferred practice pattern: primary angle closure. November 2020 [internet publication].
https://www.aao.org/preferred-practice-pattern/primary-angle-closure-disease-ppp