Prevalence of Glaucoma Among Secondary School Teachers in Onitsha, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Glaucoma an optic neuropathy and is the leading cause of irreversible and functional vision in Nigeria. It is a disease of significant public health interest. Aim: To determine the prevalence of glaucoma among secondary school teachers in Onitsha North Local Government Area (LGA) Anambra state. Materials and methods: Secondary school teachers from randomly selected schools in Onitsha North LGA had their eyes examined for glaucoma using the International Society of Geographical and Epidemiological Ophthalmology (ISGEO) and the Nigerian normative data for defining glaucoma in prevalence studies. Those with evidence of glaucoma further had the following measurements: visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), central corneal thickness (CCT), gonioscopy and central visual fields. Results: 171 teachers, made up of 158(92.4%) females and 13(7.6%) males participated. The age range was 20 – 72 years, mean 45.7±10.36 years. The prevalence of glaucoma was 5.9% with half of those affected with glaucoma been females.  The mean CCT was 529.9±26.7, mean IOP 23.3±7.1mmHg, mean cup – to – disc ratio 0.8± 0.6 – 0.9. Gonioscopy showed 9(90%)  had open angles and 2 on perimetry had an eye with advanced glaucomatous damage. Only one participant had been previously diagnosed for glaucoma. Conclusion: Prevalence of glaucoma among this cohort of teachers is high. Most of those participants with glaucoma were previously undiagnosed. The results of this study suggest the need for creating awareness on glaucoma and also the need for regular eye check among teachers.