Glaucoma Data and Statistics

In open-angle glaucoma, the fluid passes too slowly through a spongy meshwork. Since the fluid builds up, the pressure inside the eye rises to a level that may damage the optic nerve. When the optic nerve is damaged from increased pressure, open-angle glaucoma-and vision loss may result.

The prevalence of glaucoma increases with advancing age. Black Americans age 40 and older are at the highest risk of developing the disease compared with people of other races. By age 69, nearly six percent of black Americans have glaucoma; their risk rises to nearly 12 percent after age 80.

In 2010, glaucoma affected about 1.9 percent of people in the U.S. age 40 and older. Black Americans had the highest prevalence rate (3.4 percent) followed by Americans of other races (2.1 percent), whites (1.7 percent) and Hispanics (1.5 percent).

Among all people with glaucoma in the U.S., in 2010 the majority (66 percent) were white Americans, followed black Americans (19 percent), Hispanic Americans (8 percent), and people of other races (7 percent).

Because of their longer life expectancy, women are more likely than men to develop age-related eye diseases such as glaucoma. Women account for 61 percent of glaucoma cases in the U.S.

From 2010 to 2050, the number of people in the U.S. with glaucoma is expected to increase by more than double, from 2.7 million to 6.3 million.

From 2000 to 2010, the number of people in the U.S. with glaucoma rose 23 percent from 2.22 million to 2.72 million.