Population Screening of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

Based on the public health criteria to justify introducing a population screening program, this report begins by documenting the natural history and prevalence of the disease. It then analyzes studies on the efficacy of available treatments and diagnostic tests, presents scientifi c evidence on screening efficacy and information about the situation in Québec, and finally addresses the advisability of population screening.

From a broader public health perspective of reducing preventable blindness and of continually improving access to ophthalmology care and services, AETMIS finds that opportunistic screening activities are already in place, lead to referrals to ophthalmologists and absorb specialized resources; the extent, effectiveness and costs of opportunistic screening activities are not known. Also, some patients are at greater risk of a rapidly progressive form of glaucoma, but these risk factors are not fully known; and, finally,  case-finding scenarios (opportunistic screening) targeting at-risk individuals and combining several diagnostic tests achieve a good performance for these groups.