Key PointsQuestion听
What was the prevalence of glaucoma and vision-affecting glaucoma in the US in 2022?
Findings听
This meta-analysis estimated that 4.22 million people in the US (1.62% of adults) had glaucoma and 1.49 million people (0.57% of adults) had vision-affecting glaucoma in 2022. Substantial demographic and geographic disparities in glaucoma burden were also found.
Meaning听
These estimates may help in the development and prioritization of public health strategies, monitoring of epidemiologic trends, and evaluation of programs tailored for populations at highest risk of glaucoma.
Importance听
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and, in the US, disproportionately affects people from racial and ethnic minority groups. Glaucoma prevalence has not been estimated for the US in more than a decade, and state- and county-level estimates are not available.
Objective听
To estimate glaucoma and vision-affecting glaucoma prevalence by demographic factors and US state and county for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention鈥檚 Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System (VEHSS).
Data Sources听
This meta-analysis used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005-2008), Medicare fee-for-service claims (2019), IBM MarketScan commercial insurance claims (2016), population-based studies of eye disease (1985-2003), and 2022 population estimates from the US Census Bureau.
Study Selection听
PubMed was searched for population-based studies of glaucoma prevalence published between 1991 and 2016.
Data Extraction and Synthesis听
Bayesian meta-regression methods were used to estimate the prevalence of glaucoma and vision-affecting glaucoma stratified by age, undifferentiated sex/gender (a measure that captures an unclear mix of aspects of sex and or gender), race and ethnicity, and US county and state.
Main Outcomes and Measures听
Prevalence of any type of glaucoma (open or closed angle) among people 18 years or older and vision-affecting glaucoma, defined as glaucoma and a visual field abnormality.
Results听
For 2022, an estimated 4.22 million people (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 3.46 million to 5.23 million) in the US were living with glaucoma, with a prevalence of 1.62% (UI, 1.33%-2.00%) among people 18 years or older and 2.56% (UI, 2.10%-3.16%) among people 40 years or older. An estimated 1.49 million people (UI, 1.17 million to 1.90 million) were living with vision-affecting glaucoma, with a prevalence of 0.57% (UI, 0.45%-0.73%) among people 18 years or older and 0.91% (UI, 0.71%-1.16%) among people 40 years or older. Prevalence of glaucoma among people 18 years or older ranged from 1.11% (UI, 0.89%-1.40%) in Utah to 1.95% (UI, 1.57%-2.39%) in Mississippi. Black adults had a prevalence of 3.15% (UI, 2.32%-4.09%) compared with 1.42% (UI, 1.10%-1.85%) among White adults; adults in the Hispanic and all other racial and ethnic categories combined had a prevalence of 1.56% (UI, 1.13%-2.06%).
Conclusions and Relevance听
This meta-analysis found that an estimated 2.56% of people 40 years or older have glaucoma, slightly more than estimated by previous studies. Black individuals are disproportionately affected. Prevalence estimates at the state and county level can help guide public health planning.