Racial differences in the presentation of chronic open-angle glaucoma

Glaucoma is the third leading cause of blindness in the United States. A review of the literature suggests that blacks biologically are at greater risk for higher intraocular pressure, open-angle glaucoma and glaucoma-induced blindness. Although the incidence of blindness from all causes is reported to be about three times higher for nonwhites in comparison to whites, the risk of blindness from glaucoma in blacks is eight times that of whites. As the most prevalent type of glaucoma in the general population, chronic open-angle glaucoma occurs in the black population more often, at an earlier age, with greater severity, and with more damaging results.