Abstract :
Background: POAG is a major cause of irreversible blindness globally, characterized by progressive optic nerve damage and visual field loss. Despite its association with intraocular pressure (IOP), many patients develop the disease within the normal IOP range, highlighting its multifactorial nature.Aim and Objective: To determine the global prevalence and risk factors of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and answer the research question: “What demographic, clinical, and methodological factors most significantly influence the prevalence of POAG across populations worldwide?”Materials and Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on studies published from January 2014 to March 2025 across PubMed, Embase, and Scopus. Ten studies with a combined sample of 839,940 participants were included. Data extraction focused on prevalence, demographics, and risk factors, and analysis was performed using SPSS and R Studio. Study quality was assessed via the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale.Results: The mean pooled prevalence of POAG was 3% (range 1.9–31.7%). Major risk factors identified included advancing age, elevated IOP, hypertension, diabetes, family history, myopia, and polygenic susceptibility. Considerable heterogeneity was noted (p < 0.001).Conclusion: POAG is a heterogeneous, multifactorial disease. Integration of genetic risk profiling, AI-based screening, and early detection strategies can enhance prevention and reduce the global burden of blindness.
Keyword :
Prevalence, Primary open-angle glaucoma, Risk factors, Increased intraocular pressure.