It is a chronic, progressive disease of the optic nerve. Approximately 70 million people around the world are affected by glaucoma. It is the second most common cause of blindness and there are an estimated 7.5 million blind from the glaucoma, worldwide. It is one of the most common cause for irreversible (permanent) blindness in the world including our India. In India, there are at least 12 million people affected with the glaucoma, 1.5 million are blind.
The disease is more common in old age. The occurrence of glaucoma increases as age increases, approximately 2 – 3 persons per hundred persons are affected above the age 40 years; this increases to nearly 5-7 persons per hundred persons in 60-year age group. It is surprising to see that more than 90% of people are unaware of the glaucoma when first diagnosed even in urban area of metro cities.
It is fortunately rare in children. However it can affect newborn babies also. Approximately one in 10,000 newborns babies can have this kind of disease in first three years of life. This is known as congenital glaucoma. In young adult the disease is rare, it is known as juvenile glaucoma. It is very severe, progresses rapidly and management is difficult.