Clinical Features of Primary Glaucoma in South East Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The clinical course of glaucoma depends on the type, onset, severity and response to treatment. The intraocular pressure and heredity also play a role in its presentation as members of the same family tend to have the same type of glaucoma. This paper seeks to address the problem of primary open angle glaucoma – the commonest and most insidious in onset of all the glaucomas and an important cause of blindness in the world especially in blacks.
Aim: To determine the pattern of presentation of primary glaucoma in Enugu with a view to enhancing early diagnosis and preventing the present high trend of visual deterioration and loss from glaucoma.
Method: One hundred and five patients were reviewed from the glaucoma patients who come to the clinic for follow up. They were all examined to make sure that they met the inclusion criteria, and then a standard questionnaire was filled for each patient from information obtained by direct questioning and also from the case records. Information obtained was analyzed critically. A 2 by 2 table approach was used to explore the relationship between the variables. Both Z – test and Chi-squared test and the associated P value were used as the basis for approximate tests of significance.
Results: The study shows that about 20% of patients are less than 40 years of age, the commonest presenting complaint was gradual deterioration of vision and most patients presented with advanced disease in spite of a short history.

Keywords: Clinical features, primary glaucoma, Enugu