Over a million people in the UK are currently living with glaucoma – one of the leading causes of blindness – according to alarming figures recently released.
Experts warn that the real extent of this disease is much greater than previously thought and that the number of cases is expected to increase significantly in the coming decades, due to the aging of the population.
An analysis by the Institute of Ophthalmology suggests that by 2060, over 1.6 million people over the age of 40 could be affected by this serious eye disease, prompting calls for more frequent vision checks in middle-aged and elderly people.
Glaucoma develops when pressure inside the eye increases, damaging the optic nerve that transmits visual signals to the brain. It occurs most often in people over 50, but in most cases does not cause symptoms in the early stages, which means that vision loss is only detected when the damage is already irreversible.
Eye specialists involved in the study stressed that the findings "underline the need for targeted public health strategies", warning that more than 40 percent of patients in the UK lose their sight preventably because the disease is diagnosed too late.
Using official population data, the researchers estimated that 1,019,629 adults over the age of 40 are currently living with glaucoma in the UK. However, they point out that the real figure could be much higher, as more than half of cases are thought to remain undiagnosed.
In an article published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, the scientific team argues that previous estimates - which spoke of around 700 cases - did not reflect the country's demographic changes.
The risk of glaucoma increases significantly with age: about 11 percent of people over 85 are expected to have the disease. But experts emphasize that the expected increase in cases is not only related to the aging population, but also to the growth of ethnic communities that are at higher risk.
Lead author of the study, Dr Laura Antonia Meliante, from the Institute of Ophthalmology, said that these demographic changes will significantly burden the health system in the coming decades, making long-term planning essential. She stressed that accurate assessments and long-term forecasts are essential for the development of preventive strategies, including public awareness campaigns to reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment.
In an accompanying commentary, ophthalmologists Dr Alexander Schuster and Dr Cedric Schweitzer said the findings reveal an urgent gap in prevention. They said the rise in cases highlights the need for strategies that go beyond treatment, focusing on early detection and structured management to prevent blindness in old age.
To compile the estimates, the researchers analyzed data from the latest population census for the years 2021–2022, focusing on people over 40 years old, as glaucoma is rare at younger ages.
The risk increases in people over 50, those with a family history of glaucoma, or those who suffer from other diseases such as diabetes. The analysis included around 34 million people, mainly from England and Wales. Women made up just over half of the group, while the prevalence was slightly higher in men. African ethnic groups showed the highest rates of glaucoma, while Asian populations had the lowest.
Based on these trends, researchers predict an increase of about 60 percent in glaucoma cases by 2060, with a greater impact on ethnically diverse communities and people over 75 years old.
They warn that around half of glaucoma cases remain undiagnosed, even in well-funded health systems, and that this gap is even greater among ethnic minorities, who often present for treatment in advanced stages of the disease.
This is particularly concerning, as up to 16 percent of patients may end up blind in both eyes during their lifetime.
While glaucoma usually develops silently, in rare cases it can suddenly appear with severe eye pain, redness, blurred vision, headache, nausea and vomiting. Health authorities warn that similar symptoms can also be caused by eye injuries or infections.
Most cases are detected during routine eye exams, often before symptoms appear. For this reason, it is recommended that adults have eye exams at least every two years, or more often if they are in an at-risk group.
There is no cure for glaucoma yet, but treatments with eye drops, laser therapy, and surgery can slow the progression of the disease and prevent further vision loss if started early.
Sight loss is estimated to cost the UK around £58 billion a year, due to lost productivity and pressure on health and social services, while vision impairment is also linked to a higher risk of developing dementia. /GazetaExpress/
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