Research shows that glaucoma affects diverse racial and ethnic groups, such as African Americans, Latinos, Asian people, and Caucasians, in different ways—including disease risk, severity, prevalence, and distribution.* Learn more about how each of these communities is affected by glaucoma. 

African Americans

The leading cause of irreversible blindness among African Americans in the U.S. is primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). The onset of POAG begins about 10 years earlier for African Americans than for other communities, and it’s often diagnosed at a more advanced disease stage. Glaucoma is about three to four times more common in African Americans than in people of European ancestry.

The African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study Group (ADAGES) study examined two groups of patients: Americans of African descent vs. those of European descent. The researchers wanted to know whether the eyes and optic nerves of African Americans possessed traits that rendered them more vulnerable to glaucoma.

The study results revealed that African Americans:

• Had thinner corneas 
• Had larger optic nerves 
• Who had higher eye pressure were more likely to develop issues with their visual field (VF)

In response to these findings, the National Eye Institute (NEI) recommended that African Americans aged 40 and above (or earlier if there is a family history) should be evaluated for glaucoma.

Latinos

According to the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study (LALES), Latinos are also at increased risk for POAG. The study assessed the prevalence of POAG and ocular hypertension among the Latino population. Most of the study participants were Mexican-American, so the findings could not be generalized to include Latinos from other countries of origin. 

Despite this limitation, the study team noted some significant observations:

• The prevalence of POAG in Latinos was slightly lower than in African Americans but was higher than in Caucasians.
• 75% of Hispanics had not been diagnosed and did not know they had glaucoma.
• Like African Americans, Latinos had thinner corneas than Caucasians.
• Due to the high prevalence of diabetes and other blood vessel diseases, Latinos may be at higher risk for optic nerve damage from poor blood flow.

The National Eye Institute recommends that Mexican Americans over the age of 60 be tested for glaucoma.

Asian people

The effects of glaucoma are especially diverse among Asian people. This diversity applies to both the variety of Asian ethnic groups and types of glaucoma. The collective findings of several studies show that:

• The prevalence of POAG in Asian Americans is similar to that of Latinos and greater than for Caucasians.
• Primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) is a potentially more aggressive type of the disease involving risk of acute episodes. People of Asian descent appear to be especially at risk, and PACG accounts for 90% of blindness in China.
• Normal-tension glaucoma (NTG), in which there are damage and vision loss but no elevated eye pressure, is particularly common among Japanese Americans, Native Americans, and Alaskan Native populations.
• The risk of narrow angles between the iris and the cornea is higher among Vietnamese, Pakistani, and Chinese Americans than among other Asian American groups.

Caucasians

Pseudoexfoliation glaucoma is a type of open-angle glaucoma and is caused by the abnormal buildup of protein in the eye’s drainage system and other structures. It is more common in patients of Scandinavian heritage than in other ethnic groups, even among other Caucasian populations. Pseudoexfoliation glaucoma is the most common type of secondary glaucoma worldwide.

Despite the evidence of differences in glaucoma risk and severity among ethnic populations, further research is necessary to understand the reasons for these variations. 

*Ou, Y. (2018, July 11). How Glaucoma Affects Different Ethnic Groups. BrightFocus Foundation.  https://www.brightfocus.org/glaucoma/article/how-glaucoma-affects-different-ethnic-groups 

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