Sanjib Kumar Purkait1, Avik Dey Sarkar2, Anil Kumar Ghanta3, Sanchari Sarkar4
BACKGROUND
Glaucoma is the second most leading cause of visual loss in the world. Different
socio epidemiological parameters like gender, age, socio-economic status,
educational status etc. has been directly linked to occurrence of glaucoma in
previous studies. Review of the western literature showed that the risk factors
associated with glaucoma were high intra ocular pressure (IOP), low blood
pressure, low ocular perfusion pressure, narrow anterior chamber angles, thin
corneas, pseudoexfoliation, a low body mass index (BMI), and myopia. We need
to evaluate the clinical and epidemiological factors affecting primary open angle
glaucoma.
METHODS
Records of patients with a diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) were
studied. All data, addressing demographics (gender, age and skin colour), socioeconomic
status, educational status, emotional status and clinical information
concerning risk factors for developing glaucoma (family history of glaucoma,
hypertension and diabetes mellitus) and any treatment history (e.g., corticosteroid
intake) were noted. Findings from visual acuity examination, refraction, detailed
anterior segment examination by slit lamp, fundus examination with 90 D,
gonioscopy, applanation tonometry, VF examination by automated perimetry and
A-scan USG were also carefully taken into account.
RESULTS
A total 920 patients were enrolled of which 67.94 % were males and 57.6 % were
from urban population. 18.7 % cases had positive family history. Most of the
patients came from lower and middle-income group (43.48 % and 48.37 %
respectively). Cup-disc ratio of majority of eyes was found to be more than 0.30
(97.29 %). Different grades of disc changes and field changes were noted. Cupdisc
ratio asymmetry of more than 0.20 was found in 355 (38.59 %) eyes.
Paracentral and / or arcuate scotoma was detected in 585 eyes (31.80 %).
CONCLUSIONS
Understanding the socio-demography and socio-economy helps in early diagnosis
and better assessment of the disease severity in POAG.
