Differences in eye health between blacks and whites have been reported in numerous other studies. There are no symptoms, but both diseases can be detected by an eye exam. Black Americans are less likely to have their eyes examined in time to save all or part of their sight.
Cataracts are the third major cause, and are easily remedied by surgery.
African Americans overall are four to eight times more likely to go blind from glaucoma. In the Salisbury study, more than half of all seniors had vision loss from conditions that could be detected or treated. Only half of the African-American participants had any eye care during the previous year. Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among African Americans. More than half a million are diagnosed, and half as many more don't know they have it.