Glaucoma is rapidly becoming the second most prevalent cause of blindness in the world. The number of people with primary glaucoma in the world by the year 2000 is estimated at nearly 66.8 million, with 6.7 million suffering from bilateral blindness. In developed countries, fewer than 50% of those with glaucoma are aware of their disease. In the developing world, the rate of known diseases is even lower. The proportionate and absolute increase in older persons and others at higher risk in the world population will accelerate the rate of glaucoma blindness. Issues of availability, cost, and compliance make wide spread use of antiglaucoma medications impractical.
This talk will address the most appropriate primary therapy in glaucoma in developing countries, which is surgical intervention.