CHICAGO—A new study titled “Prevalence of Glaucoma Among U.S. Adults in 2022” and published in JAMA Ophthalmology has found that approximately 4.22 million people in the United States have glaucoma (1.62 percent of adults aged 18 and older), and 1.49 million people (0.57 percent of adults aged 18 and older) have vision-affecting glaucoma, with substantial variation in prevalence across demographic subgroups, U.S. states, and counties. Among those aged 40 and older, 2.56 percent have glaucoma and 0.91 percent have vision-affecting glaucoma. Previous estimates of glaucoma prevalence published in 2016 were 2.1 percent of adults aged 40 years and older and did not include estimates for those under 40 years old, or estimates of vision-affecting glaucoma, according to information about the study that was also shared by Prevent Blindness.

Researchers from NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC), the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington (Seattle), The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, and the Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Massachusetts Eye and Ear and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Vision Health Initiative authored the study, with dissemination support from Prevent Blindness. Funding was provided by the CDC Vision Health Initiative via cooperative agreement NU58DP007190, “Improving and Enhancing the U.S. Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System.” The study leverages new multi-source, composite estimates of the prevalence of glaucoma and vision-affecting glaucoma in the U.S. for individuals aged 18 and older.

“Up-to-date estimates of how many people have glaucoma in a certain area are vital for addressing the problem," said Joshua Ehrlich, MD, first author of the study. "This kind of information is important for formulating evidence-based policy and public health solutions.”

Other key findings in the study include:

  • Black individuals are about 3 times as likely to have vision-affecting glaucoma as compared to White individuals.

  • An estimated 1.94 million individuals with male sex/gender and 2.29 million individuals with female sex/gender are living with glaucoma.

  • One in about 180 adults have vision loss from glaucoma, with risk increasing with age.

  • Rates of glaucoma vary by location, with Mississippi having the highest glaucoma prevalence rate (1.95 percent), and Utah the lowest (1.11 percent).
Additional factors that contribute to vision loss from glaucoma include limited access to eye care, inability to afford necessary treatments, presence of other chronic conditions, family history of glaucoma, and inadequate education about the disease, causes and need for early intervention, says Prevent Blindness. These updated prevalence estimates, provided by the study, can help inform the development, prioritization and evaluation of public health strategies to address glaucoma, allocate resources and tailor public heath strategies to those most affected.

 
“These new glaucoma prevalence data can help inform policy planning related to vision health and will be valuable as states and localities work to support their aging populations,” said John D. Omura, MD, a co-author of the study and a medical officer at CDC.

Study estimates were developed using data within CDC’s Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System (VEHSS). The VEHSS uses new and existing data sources to help health professionals, researchers, policy makers and patients understand the scope of vision loss, eye disorders and eye care services in the United States. David B. Rein, PhD, principal investigator of VEHSS, and NORC senior fellow, said, “These estimates mark the fourth set of national, state and county level estimates created by the Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System, joining previously published estimates of vision impairment and blindness, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Collectively, these estimates expand our understanding of which Americans experience vision loss, blindness and the major diseases that cause vision problems.”

“To estimate the national prevalence of glaucoma and vision-affecting glaucoma, we used methods developed as part of the Global Burden of Disease Study, which is the most comprehensive study of its kind," said Abraham Flaxman, PhD, associate professor at IHME who led the statistical modeling on the paper. "These estimates are critical to understand the impact of glaucoma, how trends are changing and how policymakers can take action with these results.”

In relation to these findings, Prevent Blindness offers a variety of free educational and support materials on glaucoma. These include a dedicated webpage, fact sheets and information on glaucoma financial assistance programs in English and Spanish.

In addition, Prevent Blindness and Responsum Health offers patients and caregivers “The Glaucoma Community,” a free, digital education platform and mobile app. The program offers a webpage, personalized newsfeed, “Community Chat,” a Patient One-Sheet designed for patients to record medical information and share with their physicians and much more. Program partners of The Glaucoma Community include the BrightFocus Foundation, The Glaucoma Foundation, Glaucoma Research Foundation and the National Medical Association (NMA) Ophthalmology Section.

“The data from the ‘Prevalence of Glaucoma Among U.S. Adults in 2022’ study demonstrates that now, more than ever, is the time to dedicate resources to help the growing number of glaucoma patients obtain access to eye care to help save vision from the ‘Silent Thief of Sight’," said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness.

For more information on the “Prevalence of Glaucoma Among U.S. Adults in 2022” study or the VEHSS, visit https://www.cdc.gov/vision-health-data/ or the Prevent Blindness glaucoma page at https://preventblindness.org/glaucoma-prevalence/.