Primary open angle glaucoma in urban Negro and Caucasian South African communities

Primary open angle glaucoma as it presents in urbanised South African Caucasian and Negro populations has been studied in terms of prevalence, natural history, age and sex characteristics. The disease behaves similarly in both ethnic groups with only a few differences. Negroes present at an earlier average age and at the initial examination the disease tends to be more advanced. This would suggest that the age of onset is earlier in Negroes and that the natural progression of the disease is more rapid.