Retrospective analysis of black and white men with glaucoma indicated that open-angle glaucoma may be a more severe disease in blacks than in whites. Disk damage and visual field loss at initial diagnosis appeared to be worse in the eyes of blacks. Progression of disease as evidenced by further disk damage and visual field loss was more marked in the eyes of blacks. Furthermore, at initial diagnosis blacks were younger than whites, suggesting an earlier onset of open-angle glaucoma among blacks.