Prevalence of visual field defects due to capsular and simple glaucoma in Hälsingland, Sweden.

In a region where both simple and capsular glaucoma are common, the observed prevalence of glaucoma with glaucomatous visual field defects based on hospital records is presented. The prevalence increased with increasing age to a maximum of 4.5% of the age group 81-85. Capsular glaucomas accounted for two thirds of the glaucomatous visual field defects. A comparison with previous population surveys indicates that the frequency of simple glaucoma is of the same magnitude as elsewhere. The high frequency of glaucomatous visual field defects can be due to the occurrence of capsular glaucoma. This supports the hypothesis that capsular glaucoma has its own epidemiology.