Glaucoma burden in Europe projected to exceed 13 million by 2050
A study by the European Eye Epidemiology Consortium reported that Europe’s ageing population is driving an increasing burden of glaucoma, with a new study revealing that more than half of all cases remain undiagnosed, highlighting urgent gaps in early detection.
Key Findings:
- The age-standardised prevalence of glaucoma in Europe is estimated at 2.99% (95% CI 2.86%–3.12%), affecting approximately 12.3 million individuals.
- More than half of all cases (56.4%; 6.9 million individuals) remain undiagnosed. Among those under 55, this rises to over 80%.
- Glaucoma cases are projected to increase to 13.52 million by 2050 (+10.3%), driven by population ageing, with primary open-angle glaucoma set to predominate.
Reference: Stuart KV, de Vries VA, Schuster AK, et al. Prevalence of Glaucoma in Europe and Projections to 2050: Findings from the European Eye Epidemiology Consortium. Ophthalmology. 2025;132(10):1114-1124.
