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Primary angle-closure glaucoma among Alaskan Eskimos

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Abstract

An epidemiological study of the occurrence of angle-closure glaucoma was made under the Eskimos population of the Norton Sound and Bering Straits region of Alaska. Among 1673 Alaskan Natives examined 14 cases (0.8%) of angle-closure glaucoma were found, in 0.5% of the men and 1.2% of the women; for persons above the age of 40 years these figures were 2.1% and 5.5% respectively. Angle-closure glaucoma was found in 11.8% of women above the age of 60 years. A shallow anterior chamber was seen twice as frequently in women as in men. Above the age of 30 years the chamber angle was considered to be occludable in 2% of men and 7.5% of women on gonioscopic examination. The average intra-ocular pressure of the right eyes of men was 11.7 mm Hg (s.d. 3.3) and of women 12.0 mm Hg (s.d. 3.4). Primary open-angle glaucoma was not seen in the population being studied.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, St. Lambertus Hospital Helmond, Helmond, the Netherlands

    G. H. M. B. Van Rens

  2. Norton Sound Health Corporation, Nome, Alaska, U.S.A.

    S. M. Arkell & W. Charlton

  3. Catholic University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the Netherlands

    W. Doesburg

Authors
  1. G. H. M. B. Van Rens
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  2. S. M. Arkell
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  3. W. Charlton
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  4. W. Doesburg
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Van Rens, G.H.M.B., Arkell, S.M., Charlton, W. et al. Primary angle-closure glaucoma among Alaskan Eskimos. Doc Ophthalmol 70, 265–276 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00154464

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