Projected number of Australians with glaucoma in 2000 and 2030.

Accurate Australian glaucoma prevalence has been provided by two population-based studies: the Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) and the Melbourne Visual Impairment Project (MVIP). Both stud es defined glaucoma as the presence of matching optic disc cupp ng with rim thinning and g aucomatous field defects demonstrated on automated perimetry Combining 'definite' and 'probable' rates, the glaucoma prevalence in persons aged 50 and over, age-standardized for the 2000 projected Australian population, was 2.70% (BMES) and 3.13% (MVIP), including rates for 'definite' glaucoma of 2.12% (BMES) and 2.50% (MVIP). The number of Australians aged 50 and over in the year 2000 with g aucoma could be estimated as from 144 000 persons (BMES) to 167 000 persons (MVIP). Assuming similar age-specific rates, the number of Austral ans aged 50 and over in the year 2030 wth glaucoma could be estimated as from 307 000 persons (BMES) to 337 000 persons (MVIP). Ocular hypertens on (OH) was defined as present in subjects without glaucoma wth intraocular pressure (IOP) of more than 21 mmHg, including treated subjects with 'normal' examination IOP The age-standardized OH prevalence was 5.15% (BMES), which projects to 275000 Australians with OH in 2000, increasing to 513000 in 2030.