Editorial December 03, 2025 December 03, 2025

Global and national epidemiology of glaucoma: prevalence, burden, and public health implications

DOI: 10.37039/1982.8551.20250094

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the three leading causes of visual impairment are refractive errors (42%), cataracts (33%), and glaucoma (2%), with glaucoma being the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide (8%), followed by age-related macular degeneration (5%).⁽⁾ Glaucoma, a chronic and degenerative disease, has long been a concern for public health authorities. It was estimated to affect over 67 million people worldwide, a number that grew to 76 million in 2020 and is projected to reach 111.8 million by 2040.^(–) In 2020, glaucoma caused bilateral blindness in approximately 3.61 million people and moderate-to-severe visual impairment in 4.14 million, accounting for 8.4% of all blindness and 1.4% of all moderate-to-severe visual impairment worldwide.⁽⁾

Glaucoma is characterized by progressive optic neuropathy and is often asymptomatic until advanced stages. With aging populations, a higher burden of chronic diseases, and the rising prevalence of different glaucoma types, understanding the current epidemiological status and future projections is essential to guide public policies for blindness prevention and burden reduction.⁽⁾ Schoff et al. demonstrated the influence of age on glaucoma incidence: individuals aged 40 accounted for approximately 1.6 new glaucoma cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year, whereas 80-year-old people accounted for 94.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.⁽⁾ The World Glaucoma Association (WGA) estimates that one in 200 individuals aged 40 has glaucoma, with its prevalence increasing to one in eight by age 80.⁽⁾

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