The prevalence of glaucoma

Abstract

The occurrence of glaucoma was studied in a population comprising 1963 persons born during 1907 to 1921 and living in a small Swedish suburban and rural district. The records of 24 patients treated for glaucoma were examined. An estimate of the prevalence of glaucoma in untreated persons was based on an examination of 1511 subjects by standardised methods (including automatic perimetry) and strict diagnostic criteria. About 20% of all cases of glaucoma with visual field defects in the whole population were already known. Only 7 out of 15 cases of previously unknown but manifest glaucoma had intraocular pressures above 20.5 mmHg. The reduction in visual capacity caused by glaucoma in the present population was limited.