Incidence of open-angle glaucoma in a general elderly population: the Rotterdam Study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) in a general elderly white population.


METHODS
Population-based cohort study.


METHODS
Participants 55 years and older from the Rotterdam Study, The Netherlands.


METHODS
Participants at risk for incident OAG underwent at baseline (1990-1993) and follow-up (1997-1999) the same ophthalmic examination, including measurement of intraocular pressure, visual field testing, and stereo optic disc photography. The diagnosis of probable or definite OAG was made with an algorithm based on optic disc parameters and on visual field testing, independent of the intraocular pressure.


METHODS
Five-year risk and incidence rates of OAG.


RESULTS
In total, 3842 participants were examined (participation rate at follow-up, 78%). After a mean follow-up time of 6.5 years, probable (n = 58) or definite OAG (n = 29) developed in 87 persons. The 5-year risk of probable OAG was 1.2% and that of definite OAG 0.6%, and the rate rose for both together from 1% at age 60 years to approximately 3% at age 80 years. Bilateral OAG occurred 5 times more often after than before age 75 years. In participants with prevalent OAG in 1 eye, the 5-year risk of OAG in the fellow eye was 5 times higher than in fellow eyes of non-OAG eyes. Only 37% of the incident cases received treatment for OAG at the time of the reexamination.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of OAG rose significantly with age. Most of the patients with incident OAG were unaware of having OAG.
de Voogd
Simone
S
Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Ikram
M Kamran
MK
Wolfs
Roger C W
RC
Jansonius
Nomdo M
NM
Hofman
Albert
A
de Jong
Paulus T V M
PT
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014794:Visual Fields