[Progress in prevalence of primary angle closure glaucoma].

Glaucoma has long been recognized as a leading cause of irreversible blindness. According to data on the epidemiology of glaucoma, primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) is a major form of glaucoma in Asia. This is true especially in populations of East Asian and Chinese descent. The characteristics of glaucomatous epidemiology continued changing with the developments of society, economics and environment. Epidemiologic studies use different diagnostic criteria for the definition of PACG as well as what constitutes an occludable or narrow drainage angle. This will affect estimates of prevalence of the condition in different parts of the world and limit the comparison of published data. Furthermore, the prevalence of glaucoma contributed to clinical interference decisions. All of above are essential to glaucoma and closely related. The recent progress in prevalence of PACG are reviewed as below.