Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9570
+44 1223 790975
ISSN: 2155-9570
+44 1223 790975
Anurag Narula, Vemparala Rajshekhar, Shilpa Singh and Sunil Chakarvarty
Aim: The purpose of this study was to study the epidemiology of glaucoma in a semi urban population of delhi.
Methods: 24651 patients attending the eye OPD of Attar Sain Jain Eye and General Hospital, Govt of NCT of Delhi were screened and treated for glaucoma over a period of 6 months-from 1st July to 31st December, 2013.
Results: Total of 261 cases of all types of glaucoma was identified. Out of these 43 were angle closure glaucoma and 218 were open angle glaucoma. Newer cases diagnosed were 118(78 of open angle glaucoma and 30 of angle closure glaucoma). Thus the overall incidence was 4.79 cases per 1000 population. Overall prevalence of glaucoma was 10.59 cases per 1000 population. The overall male to female distribution was 121 male cases to 140 female cases but this figure was skewed towards 30 females to 13 males in case of angle closure. Family history for glaucoma was positive in 73 percent of all cases (191 cases). Two cases required surgery and 32 cases required laser iridotomy (new and augumentation). 62 percent of the overall patients were diabetics and 32 percent were smokers.
Conclusion: Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the world and India and is a silent killer of the eye. There is a lack of glaucoma epidemiological and risk factor studies and more such studies are required with larger population base and longer duration to have an assessment of the burden of glaucoma. Initiatives to increase public awareness and comprehensive eye examinations by ophthalmologists are the key to reducing or eliminating undiagnosed glaucoma. If all ophthalmologists perform comprehensive eye examinations (that includes basic slitlamp examination, intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement, pachymetry, gonioscopy and dilated fundus examination), we can definitely minimize under-diagnosis.