European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Aim: Prevalence and risk factors associated with primary open angle glaucoma in diabetic patients in a tertiary care centre.
Methods: This Cross sectional study was done in the Department of Ophthalmology, Narayan Medical College & Hospital, Sasaram, Bihar, India. All documented diabetic cases attending Department of  Ophthalmology giving consent for work up for the study, IOP > 21 mmHg (by Schiotz tonometry) with visual field defects, IOP > 21 mmHg (by Schiotz tonometry) with optic nerve head changes,Optic nerve head changes with visual field defects and Normal IOP with no visual field defects or optic nerve head changes, with asymmetry of IOP in both eyes of > 5 mmHg were included in this study.
Results: The results of the study show clear cut evidence of increased incidence of POAG in diabetic patients, which was 8%. The distribution of age in the study population ranges from 35 to 71 years. The mean age of study participants was 52.69 years and a SD of 10.69 years. There is a significant association between age and POAG. No significant association was found between gender and POAG. No significant association was found between duration of DM and prevalence of POAG. POAG was found to be more in patients with a family history of glaucoma.
Conclusion: Patients with diabetes are at increased risk of open-angle glaucoma. Glaucoma family history and retinopathy are the main risk factors for open-angle glaucoma in the early years of diabetes. Gender of patients, duration of diabetes and medication used for control of diabetes were found to be insignificantly related to glaucoma.