THE PREVALENCE OF GLAUCOMA

The occurrence of glaucoma in a population of 1963 persons born during 1907-1921 and living in a small Swedish suburban and rural district was studied. The records of 24 patients treated for glaucoma were examined. The prevalence of glaucoma in untreated persons was estimated in 1511 subjects by standardized methods (including automatic perimetry) and strict diagnostic criteria. About 20% of all cases of glaucoma with visual field defects in the whole population were estimated already known. Only 7 of 15 cases with previously unknown but manifest glaucoma had intraocular pressures above 20.5 mm Hg. The reduction in visual capacity caused by glaucoma in the present population was limited.