While the likelihood of developing blindness from glaucoma has decreased by nearly half since 1980, it is still a concern for many older adults. This concern is even higher for communities of color, particularly for Black people. Discover more about racial disparity in glaucoma prevalence and what can be done to improve early detection and prevent blindness.* 

What is the prevalence of glaucoma?

In the U.S., it’s estimated that nearly 15% of glaucoma patients develop blindness—with a significant portion of that percentage made up of Black people primarily, as well as Hispanic/Latino people, albeit to a lesser extent. 

One of the most types of glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), is 6.6-6.8 times more prevalent in Black people than White people. Moreover, Black people have been found to develop POAG 10 years earlier than White people. 

What contributes to Black people developing glaucoma earlier? 

Research gives two possible explanations of why this racial disparity in glaucoma prevalence seems to occur:

• The eye structure of Black people may be putting them at higher risk for POAG. On average, Black people have larger discs and thinner retinal nerve fiber layers (RNFL) than White people. 
• The primary indicator test for glaucoma, intraocular pressure (IOP), may not be completely beneficial in diagnosing Black people. The Baltimore Eye Survey’s findings showed a need for more research on IOP in Black people. Their survey found that they either (1) develop glaucoma even when their IOP is in a statistically normal range or that (2) there are discrepancies in the measured IOPs that may underestimate the true IOP.

What can be done to prevent glaucoma progression and blindness? 

While it is evident that more research needs to be done on glaucoma prevalence in communities of color, more can be done to combat this disease. Setting up additional educational and screening programs for high-risk populations can help to catch this often asymptomatic disease sooner and prevent blindness. 

*Allison, K. (2019). Racial disparity in the prevalence of glaucoma in the United States. Eye Reports. https://www.eyereports.org/index.php/eyereports/article/view/73

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