Researchers have found that more than half a million people may be at risk of blindness from undiagnosed glaucoma.

An analysis by experts from Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London (UCL) has revealed that around 1.02 million people in the UK have glaucoma, far more than the 700,000 previously thought.

According to researchers, about half of these people have not yet been diagnosed.

Glaucoma is a common eye disease that progresses slowly over many years and is difficult to detect. mainly affects them Over 50 years old.

The study, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, predicts that the number of glaucoma patients in the UK will soar by 60% to 1.6 million by 2060.

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Researchers said the increase was a “ticking time bomb” that would require “serious planning and action now” to ensure people are quickly diagnosed and treated in the future.

Glaucoma is the second most common causes of blindness In the UK, it is behind macular degeneration and there are no symptoms until you start losing your vision. It can only be found at an optician.

This condition causes damage to the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, and particularly affects older people as well as people with diabetes and other eye conditions such as nearsightedness and farsightedness.

There is currently no cure, but treatments such as eye drops and surgery can slow the damage caused by the disease.

Using the latest census data, the research team estimates that one million people in the UK currently have the disease, representing 3 per cent of the population aged over 40. This rate is projected to rise to 4% among people of African descent, who are at higher risk.

As more people live longer, the number of people over 85 with glaucoma is expected to double from about 220,000 to more than 440,000 within 35 years.

Experts emphasized the importance of Annual eye exam for middle-aged peopleHe called for an awareness campaign to address delays in diagnosis.

Professor Paul Foster, lead author from UCL and consultant eye surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital, said: “Glaucoma is a common cause of blindness, but symptoms do not appear until late stages, so regular testing is important for early diagnosis.”

“Delayed diagnosis increases the risk of blindness and increases the cost of treatment. More than 40% of people with glaucoma in the UK experience blindness, which could have been prevented with early diagnosis and treatment such as eye drops or surgery.”

He said the NHS needed to expand its eye services to meet the expected increase in demand. Professor Foster added: “Awareness campaigns to encourage people to get their eyes tested as part of targeted early detection strategies are also needed to address delays in diagnosis, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach populations.”

“It’s important for people in middle age and older to have an annual eye exam at an optician to look for changes that aren’t already causing symptoms.”

Joanne Creighton, CEO of Glaucoma Society UK, which commissioned the study, said: “This new research highlights the reality that more than one million adults over the age of 40 are currently living with glaucoma, many of whom have lost their vision without knowing it and may never recover.”

“This landmark study also predicts that glaucoma patients will increase by 60 percent by 2060, from just over 1 million to 1.61 million people. This is a demographic time bomb, and serious planning and action is needed now to prepare for the diagnosis, treatment and support of these future patients.”

“These findings highlight why regular eye exams are more important than ever.”

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