Purpose: to investigate life expectancy and the structure of causes of death in patients with primary glaucoma, residents of a large industrial city of Siberia. Material and methods. The database of the Novokuznetsk Public Health Department information analysis center on registration forms 025 (outpatients) and 066 (inpatients) for 2004-2011 was analyzed. Results. A total of 5424 primary glaucoma patients were registered during 2004-2011, of whom 441 (8.1%) subsequently died. Age at death of patients with primary glaucoma was 69.0±7.2 years. The difference between age at death and at diagnosis of glaucoma was 2.6±1.8 years. Conclusion. The correlation suggests that primary glaucoma is a predicting factor for vascular events, such as stroke or myocardial infarction. The authors assume that topical administration of beta blockers without consulting a physician and/or a cardiologist may lead to ischemic stroke.