Samuel Kyei Department of Optometry and Vision Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
Bismark Owusu-Afriyie Department of Optometry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Bindura University of Science Education, Bindura, Zimbabwe
Selassie Tagoh Optinova Eye Care Services, 125 Leopold Takawira Street, Harare, Zimbabwe
Michael Agyemang Kwarteng Discipline of Optometry, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Peter Nsiah Optinova Eye Care Services, 125 Leopold Takawira Street, Harare, Zimbabwe
Solomon Guramatunhu Greenwood Park Eye Center, 175 Fife Avenue, Harare, Zimbabwe
Keywords: glaucoma, intraocular pressure, cup-to-disc ratio, visual field, retinal nerve fiber
Abstract
Purpose
To evaluate the clinical and socio-demographic profile of patients living with glaucoma and receiving care in a tertiary eye center in Zimbabwe.
Method
A hospital-based retrospective study of clinical records of glaucoma patients from January 2014 to December 2018. The study involved collating demographic information of patients, visual acuities, (VA) intraocular pressure, (IOP), cup-to-disc ratios, (CDRs), average retinal nerve fibers thickness, (RNFL), cup volume, cup-to-disc area, vertical cup-to-disc ratio, (VCDR), rim area, disc area, glaucoma hemifield test, visual field indices and the management of glaucoma.
Results
Nine thousand one hundred and eighty-five (9,185) folders were retrieved. Out of these, 432 (4.7%) qualified for the study and were analyzed. There were 267 (61.8%) males and 165 (38.2%) females. The mean age (± Standard deviation, SD) of the patients was 62.66 ± 15.94 years, (range 10 – 110 years). The means visual acuity (VA): OD =1.30 ± 1.06 Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution, (logMAR), OS = 1.33 ± 1.06 logMAR; IOP: OD = 29.51 ± 12.89 mmHg, OS: 29.17 ± 12.59 mmHg; CDRs: OD = 0.91 ± 0.14 D, OS = 0.92 ± 0.14 D; and the average RNFL thickness was 72.76 ± 18.26 µm and 71.24 ± 23.17 µm in the right and left eye respectively. The mainstay of treatment was medication only.
Conclusion
There were more males than females receiving glaucoma care at the tertiary level. Glaucoma cases included juveniles but the mean age was mostly the elderly. It was characterized by high IOPs, large CDRs, and thin RNFL suggestive of late presentation.
Journal Identifiers
eISSN: 1995-7262
print ISSN: 1995-7262