Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Epidemiology Forecast 2026-2035

Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common form of glaucoma and a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. According to Sujan Banik, glaucoma affected approximately 76 million people globally in 2020, projected to reach 111.8 million by 2040, with a global prevalence of 3.5% in individuals aged 40 and older. POAG alone accounts for about 3.1% prevalence. According to primary open angle glaucoma epidemiology forecast, the disease burden is expected to rise steadily due to aging populations and increasing diagnosis rates.

Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Epidemiology Forecast Report Coverage

The analyst's “Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Epidemiology Forecast Report 2026-2035” offers comprehensive information on the prevalence and demographics of primary open angle glaucoma. It projects the future incidence and prevalence rates of primary open angle glaucoma cases across various populations. The study covers age, gender, and type as major determinants of the primary open angle glaucoma population. The report highlights patterns in the prevalence of primary open angle glaucoma over time and projects future trends based on multiple variables.

The report provides a comprehensive overview of the disease, as well as historical and projected data on the epidemiology of primary open angle glaucoma in the 8 major markets.

Regions Covered

• The United States
• Germany
• France
• Italy
• Spain
• The United Kingdom
• Japan
• India

Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Understanding: Disease Overview

Primary open-angle glaucoma is a chronic, progressive optic neuropathy characterized by gradual degeneration of the optic nerve, often associated with elevated intraocular pressure. It occurs due to impaired aqueous humor drainage through the trabecular meshwork, leading to optic nerve damage and irreversible vision loss. The disease is typically asymptomatic in early stages and progresses slowly, making early detection challenging. It is the most common form of glaucoma and does not have distinct subtypes, but it may vary in severity and progression rate across individuals.

Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Epidemiology Perspective

The primary open angle glaucoma epidemiology division offers information on the patient pool from history to the present as well as the projected trend for each of the 8 major markets. The analyst provides both current and predicted trends for the primary open angle glaucoma epidemiology scenario by examining a wide range of studies. Additionally, the report covers the diagnosed patient pool for primary open angle glaucoma and their trends. The data is broken down into specific categories, such as total prevalent cases in males and females, and total diagnosed cases across different age groups and patient pools.

• According to Sujan Banik et al., 2025, the pooled prevalence of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) in South Asia was 1.6% (95% confidence interval 1.2-2.1), within an overall glaucoma prevalence of 2.1%, confirming POAG as the most dominant subtype regionally.
• According to Kelsey V. Stuart et al., 2025, age-wise prevalence increased sharply from 0.22% in individuals aged 40-44 years to 10.74% in those aged 85 years and above, demonstrating a strong correlation between advancing age and higher POAG burden.
• According to Sujan Banik et al., 2025, gender differences showed POAG prevalence was higher in males (2.26%) than females (1.61%), with overall glaucoma prevalence also slightly higher in men (2.2%) compared to women (2.0%), indicating consistent male predominance.
• According to Joshua R. Ehrlich et al., 2024, glaucoma affected approximately 4.22 million individuals in the United States in 2022, with prevalence of 1.62% among adults aged 18 years or older and 2.56% among those aged 40 years or older.
• According to Joshua R. Ehrlich et al., 2024, around 1.49 million individuals had vision-affecting glaucoma, with prevalence of 0.57% in adults aged 18 years or older and 0.91% in those aged 40 years or older, highlighting significant non-fatal visual disability burden.

Country-wise Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Epidemiology

The primary open angle glaucoma epidemiology data and findings for the United States, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, and India are also provided in the epidemiology section.

Across the regions, the epidemiology reflects a substantial and growing public health burden. According to Jonathan S. Myers et al., 2025, glaucoma accounts for 9-12% of blindness in the United States, with prevalence among Medicare Fee-for-Service enrollees increasing from 12.7% in 2014 to 13.6% in 2019, and nearly 80% of cases being open-angle glaucoma. As per Sujan Banik et al., 2025, the global prevalence of POAG is approximately 3.1% among individuals aged 40 years and older, including populations across the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Japan, and India, indicating consistent regional disease burden.

Primary Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment Overview

The treatment of primary open angle glaucoma focuses on lowering intraocular pressure to prevent or slow optic nerve damage. First-line management includes topical medications such as prostaglandin analogues, beta blockers, alpha agonists, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Laser therapies, including laser trabeculoplasty, are used when medications are insufficient or not tolerated. In advanced cases, surgical interventions such as trabeculectomy or glaucoma drainage implants are recommended. Continuous monitoring and adherence to therapy are critical to preserving vision and preventing disease progression.

Key Questions Answered

• What are the key findings of primary open angle glaucoma epidemiology in the 8 major markets?
• What will be the total number of patients with primary open angle glaucoma across the 8 major markets during the forecast period?
• What was the country-wise primary open angle glaucoma epidemiology scenario in the 8 major markets in the historical period?
• Which country will have the highest number of primary open angle glaucoma patients during the forecast period of 2026-2035?
• Which key factors would influence the shift in the patient population of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma during the forecast period of 2026-2035?
• What are the currently available treatments for primary open angle glaucoma?
• What are the disease risks, signs, symptoms, and unmet needs of primary open angle glaucoma?

Scope of the Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Epidemiology Report

• The report covers a detailed analysis of signs and symptoms, causes, risk factors, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment options, and classification/types of primary open angle glaucoma based on several factors.
• Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Epidemiology Forecast Report covers data for the eight major markets (the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, Japan, and India).
• The primary open angle glaucoma report helps to identify the patient population, and the unmet needs are highlighted along with an assessment of the disease's risk and burden.