DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2019.v07i03.028

Pages: 998-1005

Aim: Present Study was conducted to explore the prevalence of primary glaucoma among presbyopic population and to determine its spectrum of ocular manifestations. It was also aimed to assess the impact of primary glaucoma on visual impairment. Methods and Methodology: 1000 individuals are selected and after obtaining informed consent and fulfilling the inclusion criteria, they were subjected to comprehensive eye examination in the form of visual acuity test, slit lamp biomicroscopy, perimetry, gonioscopy, tonometry, ophthalmoscopy, tomography and pachymetry. The results were tabulated, analysed and presented. Results: The age of the study population ranged from 40 to 78 years in which males were slightly higher in number than females. 4.9% were found to have primary glaucoma, showing an increasing prevalence of glaucoma with increasing age. The incidence of primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) (2.6%) was marginally higher than that of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) (2.3%). The chief complaint of the patients was dimness of vision. Significant association was discovered between primary glaucoma and diabetes, hypertension and family history. Mean intra ocular pressure (IOP) was found raised in primary glaucoma with advancing age. Mean Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer (RNFL) thickness decreased in primary glaucoma and extent of such decrease was more with increasing age. The prevalence of blindness among primary glaucoma patients was 12.24% of which 33.3% were bilaterally blind. Conclusion: Since glaucoma is a leading cause of global irreversible blindness and as POAG remains asymptomatic initially, glaucoma screening of all presbyopic population by sensitive diagnostic apparatus should be made mandatory.