Objective: To determine the prevalence and features of glaucoma in an urban South African black population.
Design: Random sampling cross-sectional population survey.
Participants: Black residents of Temba, North West Province, South Africa, age > or =40 years.
Main outcome measures: Automated visual field testing and detailed, standardized slit-lamp examination were attempted on all subjects. Glaucoma was diagnosed by use of the scheme proposed by the Working Group for Defining Glaucoma of the International Society of Geographical and Epidemiologic Ophthalmology on the basis of evidence of end-organ damage.
Results: Of 1120 subjects, 839 (74.9%) were examined. The age- and gender-adjusted prevalence of glaucoma of all types was 5.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.9%-7.1%). Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) was the most common glaucoma diagnosis, with an adjusted prevalence of 2.9% (95% CI, 1.9%-4.3%). Secondary glaucoma occurred with an adjusted prevalence of 2.0% (95% CI, 1.2%-3.3%). Exfoliative glaucoma was responsible for 16% of all glaucoma cases. The prevalence of primary angle-closure glaucoma was 0.5% (95% CI, 0.13%-1.2%). Of all subjects with glaucoma, 58% were blind in at least one eye. The prevalence of all types of glaucoma increased with age. Of subjects with POAG, 87% had not been previously diagnosed.
Conclusions: The prevalence of glaucoma in this South African population was higher than that found in white populations, and most cases were undiagnosed and untreated. Glaucoma is a major cause of blindness in this population.