Spectrum of glaucoma presentation in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to report the types and severity of glaucoma at presentation in patients attending the glaucoma clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. This information will help in designing an awareness and management strategy that will help in reducing glaucoma blindness.

Materials and Methods: Consecutive new glaucoma patients of all age groups who presented to the glaucoma clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, over a 1-year period between January and December 2009 were evaluated. Each patient had a complete ophthalmic evaluation, including intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity, visual fi eld, optic disc assessment and gonioscopy.

Results: A total of 336 patients (669 eyes) presented with glaucoma (mean age was 56.5 ± 16.5, 56.3% male) during this period. The mean presenting IOP was 23 ± 11.6 mmHg and 48.5% of the 669 eyes evaluated had severe glaucoma (MD > −12dB, cup to disc ratio of ≥0.9). Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) was the most common form (51.2%), glaucoma suspects were 55 (16.4%), 66 (19.6%) patients had normal tension glaucoma (NTG), 28 (8.3%) patients had primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG), and 15 (4.5%) patients had secondary glaucoma.

Conclusion: POAG is the most common form of glaucoma seen in the glaucoma sub-specialty clinic in Nigeria. NTG and PACG were common in this case series. A large proportion of the patients had advanced disease at presentation.

Keywords: Glaucoma, Nigeria, types, and glaucoma severity