Presenting visual acuity and ocular comorbidity in patients with primary open angle glaucoma in a private tertiary eye center in Nigeria

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the presenting visual acuity (VA) of patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and the relationship to ocular comorbidity. Materials and methods: A retrospective case note audit was undertaken in Eye Foundation Hospital, Calabar, between 1st January 2010 and 31st June 2011. The case notes of all newly presenting patients diagnosed with POAG were retrieved and data were extracted for analysis. Inclusion criteria for glaucoma was defined. Results: Out of a total of 320 new patients, 88 patients were diagnosed with POAG, with a prevalence of 27.5% (95% CI: 22.7-32.7). The mean age for males is 57.1 ± 8.8 while that of females is 52.6 ± 11.2 and the total mean of 55.8 ± 9.7. Of the 88 patients, there were 84 self referrals [95.5% (95% CI: 88.8- 98.7)], of these, 45, 53.6% (95% CI: 42.4-64.5) were for second opinion. There was no statistical significance between the gender, education and occupation and the level of VA seen on presentation. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in the right and left eye respectively, was significantly (p < 0.0001) related to the cup disk ratio. Ocular comorbid conditions were seen in 19 (22%) patients in the study. The presenting BCVA was significantly related to the presence of ocular comorbidity in the best eye. Comorbidity was not strongly related to the age of the patients. Conclusion: The course of glaucomatous progression is highly variable, identifying factors that not only predict progression but influence the VA and ocular health of the eye can help to guide clinical practice and patient treatment and monitoring.