More than one million people are estimated to currently have glaucoma in the UK, a figure projected to reach more than 1.6 million by 2060, according to a study led by UCL and Moorfields Eye Hospital researchers.
The new figures, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology and commissioned by the charity Glaucoma UK, are nearly 50 per cent higher than previous estimates of glaucoma prevalence. The researchers say there could be more than half a million people with undiagnosed glaucoma in the UK.
The researchers project that glaucoma rates will increase more rapidly than total population growth, largely due to the ageing population, putting increasing pressure on health services. They are calling for an expansion of eye health services and encouraging people to get their eyes checked regularly.
The study’s lead author is Professor Paul Foster, a UCL Institute of Ophthalmology researcher and consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital.
He said: “Glaucoma is a common cause of blindness, but it isn’t symptomatic until its later stages, so regular tests are important for early diagnosis. Previous studies have estimated that half of glaucoma cases are undiagnosed, and this is even higher among some ethnic minority groups who are more likely to experience delays in diagnosis.
“Late diagnosis comes with a higher risk of sight loss and higher costs of care; over 40 per cent of glaucoma patients in the UK experience vision loss that could have been prevented with earlier diagnosis and treatment such as eye drops or surgery.”
Joanne Creighton, CEO of Glaucoma UK, commented: “This new study reveals a reality where over one million adults aged 40 and above are currently living with glaucoma – many of them without knowing, and potentially losing sight which they will never be able to recover. This landmark study also predicts a 60 per cent increase in glaucoma cases by 2060, rising from just over one million to 1.61 million.
“This is a demographic time bomb, and we need serious planning and action now to prepare to diagnose, treat, and support these future patients. These findings highlight why routine eye tests are more important than ever before.”