The Glaucoma Therapeutics Market Is Witnessing Robust Growth in North America

 Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, the health of which is vital for good vision. Optic nerve disorder is a rare autoimmune disease that indicates degeneration of the optic nerve. An individual with glaucoma can use eye drops, take oral medications, or undergo eye surgery such as laser therapy. Glaucoma therapeutics help to reduce intraocular pressure by decreasing aqueous humor production or improving aqueous outflow, or a combination of both. The glaucoma therapeutics market is expected to witness robust growth due to increasing prevalence of the disease and the growing geriatric population.

 

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness in the United States and the world. According to BrightFocus Foundation, formerly known as the American Health Assistance Foundation, in 2020, around 80 million people had glaucoma worldwide, and this number is expected to increase to over 111 million by 2040. Moreover, glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), by 2050, the world's population aged 60 years and older is expected to total 2 billion, up from 900 million in 2015. Thus, with increasing prevalence of glaucoma, the demand for glaucoma therapeutics is also increasing.

For instance, in March 2019, Aerie Pharmaceuticals received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin selling Rocklatan, a once-daily eye drop for reducing high intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form and affects approximately 95% of individuals. It is three to four times more common in African Americans than in non-Hispanic Whites. The most common types of glaucoma are primary open angle and primary angle closure glaucoma. Thus, the glaucoma therapeutics market is gaining huge traction due to the increasing prevalence and increasing demand for glaucoma therapeutics.

Moreover, growth of the glaucoma therapeutics market is driven by the increasing prevalence of diabetes as people with diabetic retinopathy have an increased risk of glaucoma. Glaucoma may occur among the people with or without diabetes. According to National Eye Institute, the number of Americans with diabetic retinopathy is expected to nearly double, from 7.7 million to 14.6 million from 2010 to 2050. However, drug recalls by market players could have a predominant impact on the glaucoma therapeutics market. For instance, in October 2017, Allergan had to recall seven lots of Combigan and one lot of Lumigan due to testing results not meeting the regulatory specifications for individual and total impurities.