Presentation of Glaucoma Patients in National Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria.

Abstract

Aim: To determine the pattern of presentation of patients with primary open angle glaucoma
Methods: This was a prospective study which was carried out among patients with Primary open angle 
glaucoma at the Eye clinic of the National Hospital Abuja. All glaucoma patients presenting for the first 
time in the hospital eye clinic over a one year period with a diagnosis of primary open angle glaucoma 
were enrolled in the study. Data was obtained using interviewer administered questionnaires and ocular 
examination included visual acuity, gonioscopy, slit lamp examination, funduscopy, tonometry, central 
corneal thickness and visual fields. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social 
Sciences (SPSS) version 15.
Results: A total of 152 patients were seen in the eye clinic within the study period. The male to female 
ratio was 1.34:1. The mean age was 51.73 years (SD ± 12.04) and the peak age incidence was in the 
sixth decade. The majority of patients, 109 (71.7%) had tertiary level of education while only 4.6% were 
illiterates. Eighty two patients (54.0%) had subjective visual loss at presentation. Twenty four (24) 
patients had visual impairment (15.8%) while 9 patients (5.9%) were blind at presentation. Twenty eight 
patients (18.4%) presented with cup to disc ratios of 0.9-1.0 while 29 patients (19.1%) had severe visual 
field defects. Higher levels of education, high occupational status, high monthly income, living within 
Abuja were significantly associated with early presentation (P<0.01). Seventy six patients (50.0%) 
accepted to have glaucoma surgery at initial presentation.
Conclusions: Glaucoma patients attending the Eye Clinic of the National Hospital, Abuja presented 
relatively early when compared with previous studies from other parts of Nigeria.