WORLD VIEW

Gonioscopy findings and prevalence of occludable angles in a Burmese population: the Meiktila Eye Study

R J Casson¹, H S Newland¹, J Muecke¹, S McGovern¹, L M Abraham¹, W K Shein², D Selva¹ and T Aung³

¹ South Australian Institute of Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Adelaide University, Adelaide, South Australia
² Trachoma Control and Prevention Programme, Meiktila Eye Hospital, Meiktila, Myanmar
³ Yangon Eye Hospital, Yangon, Myanmar

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Professor R J Casson
Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, South Australian Institute of Ophthalmology, Adelaide University, South Australia 5000, Australia; robert.casson{at}adelaide.edu.au

Aim: To determine the prevalence of preglaucomatous angle-closure disease in central Myanmar.

Methods: A population-based survey of inhabitants 40 years in the Meiktila District was carried out; 2481 subjects were identified, 2076 participated and 2060 underwent gonioscopy of at least one eye. Eyes with angles traditionally described as "occludable" were recorded as primary angle-closure suspects (PACS); eyes with PACS and peripheral anterior synechiae (PAS), or an increased intraocular pressure but without primary angle-closure glaucoma, were recorded as primary angle closure (PAC).

Results: The prevalence of PACS in at least one eye was 5.7% (95% CI 4.72 to 6.62); prevalence increased with age and was more common in women (p<0.001). The prevalence of PAC in at least one eye was 1.50% (95% CI 1.47 to 1.53). All participants with PAS had at least 90° of closure (range 90–360°).

Conclusion: The prevalence of preglaucomatous angle-closure disease (PACS and PAC) in this population was 5.7% and 1.5%, respectively. PACS was more common in women, and its prevalence increased with age.

Abbreviations: GON, glaucomatous optic neuropathy; IOP, intraocular pressure; ISGEO, International Society for Geographical and Epidemiological Ophthalmology; MOH, Meiktila Eye Study; PAC, primary angle closure; PACG, primary angle-closure glaucoma; PACS, primary angle-closure suspects; PAS, peripheral anterior synechiae; VDCR, vertical cup:disc ratio

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Nolan, W. P (2007). Prevention of primary angle-closure glaucoma in Asia. Br. J. Ophthalmol. 91: 847-848 [Full Text]