South Korea’s national survey highlights diagnostic discrepancies in glaucoma
Using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2019–2021, Cho et al. estimated the national prevalence of glaucoma among 18,710 adults aged 20 years and older, examined diagnostic discrepancies, and evaluated factors associated with undiagnosed glaucoma and missed diagnostic opportunities.
Key Findings:
- The weighted prevalence of glaucoma was 3.9%, increasing from 0.8% among adults aged 20-29 years to nearly 12% among those aged 80 and above; prevalence was higher among males than females (4.9% vs 3.1%).
- Among adults with glaucoma defined by the International Society of Geographical and Epidemiological Ophthalmology (ISGEO) criteria, only 17% were aware of their condition, leaving 83% undiagnosed.
- After taking other factors into account, people living in rural areas, those in the lowest household income group, those with hypertension, and those with high myopia were more likely to have undiagnosed glaucoma. The association was strongest for high myopia.
- Among those with undiagnosed glaucoma, 45% had a missed diagnostic opportunity despite having undergone an eye examination by an ophthalmologist within the preceding year.
- Conversely, among adults who self-reported a prior diagnosis of glaucoma, 60% did not meet the ISGEO criteria.
Reference: Cho SD, Park SH, Kim YK. Diagnostic discrepancies in glaucoma: underdiagnosis, overdiagnosis and missed opportunities in a nationwide South Korean population. Br J Ophthalmol. Published online 2026:bjo-2026-329939. doi:10.1136/bjo-2026-329939
