Venkataratnam Peram, Srihari Atti, Srinivasprasad Killani, Sikander A. K. Lodhi, Krishnakisore Arikeri, Sridhar Goli
BACKGROUND: Primary Angle Closure Disease is a common cause of Blindness. So, our study was to know the Epidemiological factors in the Primary Angle Closure Disease. OBJECTIVES: This study was to evaluate the Epidemiological factors of the Primary Angle Closure Disease, a common cause of Blindness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a tertiary hospital based prospective study in the department of Glaucoma, Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital and Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (RIO), Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad over a period from August 2012 to August 2014. 50 Patients diagnosed as primary angle closure disease using International Society of Geographical and Epidemiological Classification (ISGEO) was studied. Epidemiological data of age, gender, urban/ rural, Occupation and socioeconomic status along with the Height (cm) of the patients were taken. The data thus collected was analysed by simple statistical methods. RESULTS: This study data analysis of 50 patients of primary Angle closure disease showed the Age wise distribution as 10(20.0%) in 40-50yrs, 27(54.0%) in 51-60yrs, 12(24.0%) in 61-70yrs and 1(2.0%) >70yrs. 14(28.0%) were males and 36(72.0%) were females. 21(42.0%) were from the Rural areas and 29(58.0%) were from urban. Occupation data showed 20(40.0%) the house wives, 13(26.0%) in Agricultural occupation and others in 11(22.0%). The socioeconomic status showed 1(2.0%) upper, 8(16.0) upper middle, 14(28.0%) lower middle, 22(44.0%) upper lower and 5(10.0%) lower strata. Height (cm) showed 13(26.0%), 23(46.0%), 7(14.0%), 5(10.0%) and 2(4.0%) in height (cm) range of 146-150,151- 155, 156-160, 161-165 and 166-170 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that increasing age and female gender were the common risk factors. The short stature may be considered as another risk factor due to the shallow Anterior chamber. The reason for more prevalence in lower socioeconomic status was due to lack of awareness with low educational status. There is a need to create awareness in the society and in the eye care professionals for the prevention of angle closure disease related blindness in the community with its early detection.
