TYPES AND PATTERN OF PRESENTATION OF REFRACTORY GLAUCOMA IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

Aim: To determine the types and pattern of presentation of refractory glaucoma.
Methods: The study was conducted in the outpatient department of the Ispahani Islamia Eye 
Hospital from May 2019 to Dec 2019. All patients included in the study were diagnosed with
refractory glaucoma with uncontrolled intraocular pressure on medical treatment. An 
interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain necessary 
sociodemographic data from the patients and the diagnosis was obtained from their case 
records. Statistical Package Software for Social Science (SPSSV20) was used for data analysis.
Results: A total of 98 patients with refractory glaucoma seen. The age range was 21-80 years 
with mean age of 49.56 years ±14.079. Females were 52(53.1%) while the males were 
46(46.9%). The male to female ratio was 1:1.1. Poor vision was the most common occurring 
symptom occurring in all 98 (100%) patients followed by pain occurring in 21 (21.43%) patients. 
The most common visual acuity was No Perception of Light (NPL) in 47 patients (48%). 
Neovascular glaucoma was the most common form of refractory glaucoma occurring in 46 
patients (46.9%) followed by absolute angle closure glaucoma which occurred in 25 patients 
(25.5%) and aphakic and pseudophakic patients which occurred in 9 patients (9.2%) and 6 
patients (6.1%) respectively.
Conclusion: Refractory glaucoma in Bangladesh was most commonly due to neovascular 
glaucoma followed by absolute chronic angle closure glaucoma and pseudophakic/aphakic 
glaucoma.