UK glaucoma prevalence nearly 50% higher than previously estimated

A recent press release issued by Moorfields Eye Hospital announced startling glaucoma prevalence data based on a new study¹ published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology. The data estimate that the prevalence of glaucoma currently is almost 50% higher than previously estimated and that over 1.6 million individuals in the UK are estimated to have glaucoma by 2060, according to the study authors.

Ageing of the population is suspected to be a factor in the spike in the prevalence rate.

The investigators emphasized the importance of early diagnosis of glaucoma, “Late diagnosis remains a major risk factor for glaucoma-related vision loss, with over 40% of patients in the UK experiencing preventable vision impairment due to delays in treatment.² Given that glaucoma remains asymptomatic until its later stages, early detection and timely intervention may help slow disease progression and preserve vision.³ Accurate, up-to-date estimates and long-term projections of disease burden are therefore essential for the development and implementation of viable preventive strategies, including public awareness campaigns aimed at reducing delays in diagnosis and treatment, as well as to inform effective health-care planning and guide resource allocation.^4,5 As the UK’s population continues to age, the burden of glaucoma is projected to rise, placing increasing pressure on an already stretched national healthcare system.^6,7 Anticipating this trend is critical to ensure that the healthcare system can meet the needs of the ageing and increasingly diverse UK population.⁶

Glaucoma study methodology and results

The researchers from Moorfields and University College London, led by first author Laura Antonia Meliante, MD, analyzed data obtained from the most recent UK census and the European Eye Epidemiology Consortium. She is from the NIHR Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, and the University of Rome La Sapienza Department of Organs of Sense, Rome.

An important component of this work was the recognition of the ethnic diversity of the population, and, in addition to consideration of age and sex, the population was grouped into four ethnic categories: European, African, Asian, and mixed/other.

The investigators reported, “Among 34 million UK adults aged ≥40 years, an estimated 1,019,629 individuals (95% confidence interval [CI], 691,042-1,428,594) are currently living with glaucoma. Estimated age-specific case numbers increase from approximately 10,000 at ages 40–44 to nearly 173,000 in those ≥85 years. Although non-European groups represent only 5.8% of the UK population aged ≥65, they account for an estimated 8.1% of current glaucoma cases. By 2060, the number of affected individuals is projected to rise to 1.61 million (95% CI, 1.11-2.22 million), corresponding to a 60% rise in cases despite only a 28% population increase, driven by demographic ageing and the growth of higher-risk ethnic populations.”¹

With an eye to the future, the authors emphasized “the need to expand ophthalmology services, including optometric ‘case-finding’ initiatives, to meet the anticipated rise in glaucoma burden and ensure equitable access for underserved populations, particularly those living in remote or poorly connected areas and those with limited access to specialist eye care.”

Lead study author Professor Paul Foster, consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital and researcher at UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, commented in the press release, “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% 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.”

References

1. Meliante LA, Stuart KV, Luben RN, Nolan WP, Khawaja AP, Foster PJ. Current burden and future projections of glaucoma in the United Kingdom. Br J Ophthalmol. 2026; published on line ahead of print January 20. doi:10.1136/bjo-2025-328373

2. Foot B, MacEwen C. Surveillance of sight loss due to delay in ophthalmic treatment or review: frequency, cause and outcome. Eye (Lond). 2017;31:771–5.

3. King A, Azuara-Blanco A, Tuulonen A. Glaucoma. BMJ. 2013;346.

4. Harper RA, Gunn PJG, Spry PGD, et al. Care pathways for glaucoma detection and monitoring in the UK. Eye (Lond). 2020;34:89–102.

5. Burr JM, Mowatt G, Hernández R, et al. The clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of screening for open angle glaucoma: a systematic review and economic evaluation. Health Technol Assess. 2007;11:iii–iv.

6. Tuck MW, Crick RP. The projected increase in glaucoma due to an ageing population. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2003;23:175–9.

7. Tham YC, Li X, Wong TY, et al. Global prevalence of glaucoma and projections of glaucoma burden through 2040: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Ophthalmology. 2014;121:2081–90.