European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

To study clinical presentation of primary open angle glaucoma at initial diagnosis.
Methods:
The study was conducted on patients of above 40 years of age attending OPD to screen the patients for primary open angle glaucoma.
Results:
The prevalence of glaucoma in the study is 1%. The mean age in our study is 58.1 years. 20.9%  and >50% of the studied cases showed RAPD in the right and left eye, respectively. CDR 0.5-0.8 was present in 70% of right eyes and 42.9% of left eyes whereas Glaucomatous Optic Atrophy was present in 16.8% in right eyes and 27.8 left eyes, respectively. Mean IOP was 22.9mmHg and 27.8mmHg in right and left eye, respectively. 13.8% of the patients had IOP greater than 30mmHg in the right eye at presentation. 19.9% of the study subjects had mild visual fields changes in right eye. 20.4% had moderate and 10.2 % had severe visual fields changes in right eye whereas 6.6% had moderate visual field changes in left eye and 55.6% had severe changes. There was a statistically significant correlation of BCVA which decreased with increasing CD ratio, increasing IOP and progressively increasing visual field defects.
Conclusion:
Most of the patients presented late in the disease stage and 39.8% had glaucomatous optic atrophy in left eye and 16.8% in right eye at the first visit to OPD indicating lack of awareness about the disease especially in rural areas. The nature of primary open angle glaucoma is that it evades detection until final stages of the disease is reached. A health service response is required to prevent blindness from glaucoma. Early detection of the cases offers the best potential in preventing blindness from glaucoma. Screening in high risk populations should complement periodic ocular examination by an Ophthalmologist.