The expected increase in glaucoma over the next 10 years is primarily driven by an aging population. The longer people live, the more likely they are to develop glaucoma and other optic nerve-related diseases.
In addition, greater diagnostic awareness and improved technologies are helping eye care providers identify cases that may have previously been missed. While this represents progress, it also reveals the true scope of the problem and places increasing demands on eye care providers.
Finally, population diversity plays an important role. Certain racial and ethnic groups, including individuals of African, Hispanic, and Asian descent, carry a higher lifetime risk of glaucoma or are more likely to develop aggressive forms of the disease. As these populations increase, so does the overall prevalence.
Who is most at risk and why
The risk for glaucoma is not evenly distributed among the population. Several factors can contribute to the development of glaucoma:
Advancing age, particularly over 40, and accelerating after age 60
Family history of glaucoma, reflecting genetic susceptibility
Elevated intraocular pressure (though the possibility of normal-tension glaucoma should not be ignored)
Race and ethnicity - as previously mentioned, populations of African, Asian, and Hispanic descent carry a higher risk
Systemic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and vascular disease all contribute to an increased risk of developing glaucoma.
These overlapping risk factors make glaucoma a condition that affects older adults and medically complex patients at higher rates. These are groups that already encounter barriers to consistent access and continuity of care.
Glaucoma’s greatest danger is that it often has no outward symptoms in its early stages. That’s why glaucoma is sometimes called the "sneak thief of sight." Most patients experience no symptoms until permanent vision loss has already occurred.
Comprehensive eye exams, including optic nerve evaluation, intraocular pressure, and visual field testing, remain the single most effective tool for early detection. When glaucoma is detected early, progression can often be slowed or stabilized, preserving vision and quality of life for decades. That’s why it’s so important to get regular comprehensive eye exams as part of an overall wellness strategy.
From a public-health perspective, early detection is not only clinically sound but also economically responsible, reducing downstream costs associated with advanced disease, disability, and loss of independence.
What must change to address the trend?
If glaucoma rates continue to rise as projected, the solution will not come from technological advances or clinical innovation alone. Any significant progress will require:
Improved access to routine eye care, particularly for aging adults and underserved communities
An increase in awareness that comprehensive eye exams are not optional, and should be performed on a routine basis as part of an overall wellness approach
Support for optometrists and ophthalmologists who serve as the front line of detection, education, and long-term disease management
Benefit design, care coordination, and patient engagement models must progress in parallel with clinical best practices to ensure that early glaucoma detection becomes the norm, rather than the exception.
As eye care professionals, we have an opportunity and an obligation to address the rising burden of glaucoma before preventable vision loss becomes an accepted outcome of getting older. Well-thought-out policies, more accessible care models, and consistent patient education can make a meaningful impact on both the discovery of glaucoma and the long-term ramifications for our patients.
We believe that making comprehensive eye exams more accessible and pushing the importance of early detection are foundational to protecting long-term vision health. Glaucoma may be irreversible, but much of its impact is preventable — if we act early and act together.
