How common is carotid artery disease ?
Carotid artery disease is common but does not always cause symptoms. The exact incidence is not known as no-one has looked for it in the population.
Strokes affect 190 people per 100 000 population every year. A quarter of these will be minor strokes. 80% of these will be due to carotid disease and of these 20% will have a narrowing severe enough to warrant an operation.
Transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs, mini-strokes) affect 48 out of 100 000 people every year. Of these 80% will be due to carotid artery disease and of these 20% will have a narrowing severe enough to warrant surgery.
Amaurosis fugax affects approximately 5 people per 100 000 per year. Half of these will be due to carotid disease.
You can see therefore that the number of patients who will benefit from surgery to their carotid arteries is relatively small.