Glaucoma and intraocular pressure in EPIC-Norfolk Eye Study: cross sectional study

Abstract

Objectives To report the distribution of intraocular pressure (IOP) by age and sex and the prevalence of glaucoma. Design Community based cross sectional observational study. Setting EPIC-Norfolk cohort in Norwich and the surrounding rural and urban areas. Participants 8623 participants aged 48-92 recruited from the community who underwent ocular examination to identify glaucoma. Main outcome measures Prevalence and characteristics of glaucoma, distribution of IOP, and the sensitivity and specificity of IOP for case finding for glaucoma. Results The mean IOP in 8401 participants was 16.3 mm Hg (95% confidence interval 16.2 mm Hg to 16.3 mm Hg; SD 3.6 mm Hg). In 363 participants (4%), glaucoma was present in either eye; 314 (87%) had primary open angle glaucoma. In the remaining participants, glaucoma was suspected in 607 (7%), and 863 (10.0%) had ocular hypertension. Two thirds (242) of those with glaucoma had previously already received the diagnosis. In 76% of patients with newly diagnosed primary open angle glaucoma (83/107), the mean IOP was under the threshold for ocular hypertension (21 mm Hg). No one IOP threshold provided adequately high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of glaucoma. Conclusions In this British community, cases of glaucoma, suspected glaucoma, and ocular hypertension represent a large number of potential referrals to the hospital eye service. The use of IOP for detection of those with glaucoma is inaccurate and probably not viable.

Antiglaucoma medication utilization and therapeutic outcome among Nigerian older persons with primary open angle glaucoma

“…8,17 The prevalence in this study (82.9%) was comparable with the national prevalence of POAG in Nigeria (86.0%) and 87.0% earlier reported in Epic-Norfolk Eye study in Norwich. 3,18 The prevalence of POAG in this study was however lower than 94.5% reported in the urban West African population. 2 This study observation is significant considering the high rate of blindness and economic burden associated with POAG in Africa and in Nigeria specifically.…”

“…This observation concurred with many reports on gender difference in the prevalence of POAG among glaucoma patients in Nigerian and many parts of the globe. 3,17,18 Medication utilization pattern reflects the knowledge, experience and the practitioners' stance on disease management approach. It may also depict the state of healthcare delivery in a facility.…”

Prevalence of glaucoma in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort Eye Study

“…; Chan et al. ). According to the earlier literature, normal tension glaucoma is the most common form of primary open‐angle glaucoma (Shields ).…”

Does eye examination order for standard automated perimetry matter?

“…This assumption is supported by results from population studies show an almost identical number of left and right eyes defined as having primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) (Chan et al. ; Iwase et al. ; Springelkamp et al.…”