Over one million people are estimated to currently have glaucoma in the UK, almost 50% higher than the previous estimates of 700,000, according to a new study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.
Glaucoma is a common condition in which the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, becomes damaged. As it often has no symptoms until a considerable amount of vision has been permanently lost, the team are calling for patients to get their eyes checked more frequently and eye health services expanded.
Lead author Paul Foster, consultant ophthalmologist at Moorfields and researcher at UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, explained: “Late diagnosis comes with a higher risk of sight loss and higher costs of care; over 40% of glaucoma patients in the UK experience vision loss that could have been prevented with earlier diagnose and treatment such as eye drops and surgery.”
The study, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, also projects a rise to 1.6m by 2060. This is largely due to the ageing population, but also reflects an increasing proportion of ethnicities with higher prevalence of glaucoma.
Jill's story
Jill worked for over 30 years as a nurse in acute, mental health and community settings, working her way up to director of nursing, then an NHS chief executive. In retirement she is still busy volunteering and travelling, including walks of the European camino pilgrimage trails.
Describing her experience with glaucoma, she said: “I had experienced floaters in my eyes for years, but eight or nine years ago it dawned on me that they were worse in my right eye and there were patches in my field of vision where I couldn’t see.
“My GP sent me to my local hospital where I was diagnosed with glaucoma and given some drops. As I was having difficulty getting follow-up appointments with them, I contacted Moorfields Private initially, in order to be seen quickly, later transferring to Moorfields Eye Hospital, where over the years I tried different drops and also laser surgery.
“Around a year ago, I had reluctantly given up driving, and my vision was deteriorating, I was also finding it difficult to adjust from light to darkness and vice versa. At Moorfields Eye Hospital my consultant advised me to have a trabeculectomy. This surgery, to create a new drainage pathway for fluid in the eye, aims to prevent further sight loss.
“I would urge people reading my story to get their eyes tested regularly and, if diagnosed with glaucoma, to take their treatment, even if they have no symptoms. You can lose your sight if you don’t.”
Click here to read the full paper submitted to BJO
21 January 2026