Publication: Prevalence of glaucoma in Sunsari district of eastern Nepal
Date
2007
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
Aims: To determine prevalence of glaucoma and glaucoma suspect in subjects 40 years and above in Sunsari district
of eastern Nepal.
Methods: A community based cross sectional study examining 1600 selected subjects was carried out. In all
subjects best corrected visual acuity was determined. Oblique torch light test was used for anterior chamber depth
evaluation. Intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements with Perkins tonometer and fundus examination were carried
out in the community. Subjects diagnosed as glaucoma suspect were further evaluated in the hospital using slit lamp
examination, gonioscopy and Goldmann perimetry.
Glaucoma was defined by characteristic disc and visual field changes irrespective of the level of IOP.
Results: Of 1600 subjects examined, the prevalence of glaucoma was found to be 0.938%. The prevalences of
primary open angle glaucoma, primary angle closure glaucoma, secondary glaucoma and ocular hypertension were
0.562%, 0.125%, 0.250% and 0.500% respectively. Lens induced glaucoma accounted for all the cases of secondary
glaucoma.
Conclusion: The prevalence of glaucoma in the Sunsari District of Nepal is 0.938%, which is lower than that
reported in the neighboring regions. Lens induced glaucoma is highly prevalent as a cause of secondary glaucoma.
Key words: Glaucoma, prevalence, Eastern Nepal, secondary glaucoma
Description
Sah RP 1, Badhu BP2, Pokharel PK3, Thakur SKD 4, Das H 2, Panda A5
1Rana Ambika Lumbini Eye Institute, Bhairawa, Nepal, 2Department of Ophthalmology, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal, 3 Department of Community Medicine, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal, 4Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Kolkata, India, 5Dr R P Centre for Ophthalmic studies, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.