PROFILE OF GLAUCOMA IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTER OF KUMAON REGION, HALDWANI UTTARAKHAND

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
To study the profile of glaucoma in patients ≥35 years of age attending
eye Out Patient Department in a tertiary care center of Kumaon region in Uttarakhand
.
METHODS:
A
cross sectional study was conducted in Out Patient Department of Ophthalmol
ogy from
November
2012 to October 2014
.
Total 200 patients were included in this study based on inclusion and
exclusion criteria’s
.
RESULTS:
Among 200 patients
,
profile of primary glaucoma identified included
primary angle closure glaucoma 84
(
42%)
,
primar
y open angle glaucoma 63
(
32%)
,
glaucoma suspect
32
(
16%) and normal tension glaucoma 21
(
10%)
.
Among subtypes of angle closure glaucoma
,
spectrum was primary angle closure suspect 9
(
10
.
71%)
,
primary angle closure 15
(
17
.
86%) and
primary angle
closure glaucoma 60
(
71
.
43%)
.
Male patients were 106
(
53%) and female patients were
94
(
47%)
.
CONCLUSION:
Primary angle closure glaucoma was observed most commonly followed by
primary open angle glaucoma
.
Glaucoma was significantly associated with increas
e in age
.
Male
patients outnumbered female patients
.
However
,
females were diagnosed more with primary angle
closure glaucoma
.

Full text

DOI: 10.14260/jemds/2015/638
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
J of Evolution of Med and Dent Sci/ eISSN- 2278-4802, pISSN- 2278-4748/ Vol. 4/ Issue 26/ Mar 30, 2015 Page 4411
PROFILE OF GLAUCOMA IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTER OF KUMAON
REGION, HALDWANI UTTARAKHAND
Kalpana1, Govind Singh Titiyal2, Vimlesh Sharma3
HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE:
Kalpana, Govind Singh Titiyal, Vimlesh Sharma. “Profile of Glaucoma in a Tertiary Care Center of Kumaon
Region, Haldwani Uttarakhand”. Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences 2015; Vol. 4, Issue 26,
March 30; Page: 4411-4417, DOI: 10.14260/jemds/2015/638
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: To study the profile of glaucoma in patients ≥35 years of age attending
eye Out Patient Department in a tertiary care center of Kumaon region in Uttarakhand. METHODS: A
cross sectional study was conducted in Out Patient Department of Ophthalmology from November
2012 to October 2014. Total 200 patients were included in this study based on inclusion and
exclusion criteria’s. RESULTS: Among 200 patients, profile of primary glaucoma identified included
primary angle closure glaucoma 84(42%), primary open angle glaucoma 63(32%), glaucoma suspect
32(16%) and normal tension glaucoma 21(10%). Among subtypes of angle closure glaucoma,
spectrum was primary angle closure suspect 9(10.71%), primary angle closure 15(17.86%) and
primary angle closure glaucoma 60(71.43%). Male patients were 106(53%) and female patients were
94(47%). CONCLUSION: Primary angle closure glaucoma was observed most commonly followed by
primary open angle glaucoma. Glaucoma was significantly associated with increase in age. Male
patients outnumbered female patients. However, females were diagnosed more with primary angle
closure glaucoma.
KEYWORDS: Primary Open Angle Glaucoma, Primary Angle Closure Suspect, Primary Angle Closure,
Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma, Normal Tension Glaucoma, Glaucoma Suspect, Profile, Tertiary care
center.
INTRODUCTION: Glaucoma is the second most common cause of preventable blindness in the world.
It is a major public health problem, causing visual impairment which hampers day to day work. It is
estimated that over 60. 5 million people throughout the world affected by open angle glaucoma and
angle closure glaucoma, and will be increasing to 79.6 million by the year 2020.[1]
The disability caused by glaucoma is irreversible. It is a 'silent killer' as most of the time, it is
asymptomatic up to the very advanced stage and at the time of presentation to the ophthalmologist,
the visual loss is often irrecoverable.
In public health context, this can be seen as an optic neuropathy associated with chara-
cteristic structural damage to the optic nerve and associated visual dysfunction that may be caused
by various pathological processes.[2] Although glaucoma more commonly affects older adult, it can
occur in all segments of society, with significant health and economic consequences.[3] A troublesome
yet consistent finding across various population based studies is that a large portion of glaucoma
remains undiagnosed.[4] In developed countries 50% of patients with glaucoma do not know that they
have this disease.[5,6,7]
Strategies for early detection of glaucoma could reduce the high risk of blindness resulting
from glaucoma.[8] In India every eighth person above the age of 40 years is either suffering from
glaucoma or is at high risk of disease. Therefore, to detect glaucoma, it is necessary to perform a
comprehensive eye evaluation on every person who comes to an eye care system.[9]

DOI: 10.14260/jemds/2015/638
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
J of Evolution of Med and Dent Sci/ eISSN- 2278-4802, pISSN- 2278-4748/ Vol. 4/ Issue 26/ Mar 30, 2015 Page 4412
Understanding the pattern and the associated characteristics of glaucoma is an essential and
crucial step to develop strategic plans and corresponding intervention programs.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross sectional study was conducted from November 2012 to
October 2014 in Out Patient Department (OPD) of Ophthalmology. Patients, more than or equal to 35
years of age were included based on inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Inclusion Criteria:
i. Glaucoma suspect.
ii. Primary open angle glaucoma.
iii. Primary angle closure glaucoma.
iv. Normal tension glaucoma.
Exclusion Criteria:
i. Congenital glaucoma.
ii. Juvenile glaucoma.
iii. History of trauma.
iv. Secondary glaucoma.
v. Age less than 35 years.
Data was collected on predesigned, pretested questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of
three sections:
i. First section covers the identification details.
ii. Second section covers the detailed history related to glaucoma and general examination.
iii. Third section covers the detailed ocular examination.
Examinations Include:
 Visual acuity on Snellen’s chart.
 Slit lamp examination.
 Tonometry with Goldmann’s applanation tonometer.
 Direct Ophthalmoscopy followed by stereoscopic examination of fundus with 90D lens.
Suspected patients were further evaluated by:
 Gonioscopy.
 Visual field testing using automated perimeter (Humphrey).
Definition Criteria [10]
Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG):
 Open angle on gonioscopy.
 IOP >21 mm of Hg without any apparent ocular or systemic abnormality that might account
for raised IOP.
 Typical glaucomatous optic nerve head changes and/or Glaucomatous visual field defects.

DOI: 10.14260/jemds/2015/638
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
J of Evolution of Med and Dent Sci/ eISSN- 2278-4802, pISSN- 2278-4748/ Vol. 4/ Issue 26/ Mar 30, 2015 Page 4413
Glaucoma Suspect (GS):
Open angle by gonioscopy, and one of the following in at least one eye:
 IOP >21 mmg by applanation tonometry.
 Optic disc s/o glaucomatous changes.
 Diffuse or focal narrowing of disc rim.
 Diffuse or focal retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) abnormalities.
 Disc haemorrhage.
 CDR difference >0.2 between fellow eyes.
 Visual fields suspicious for early glaucomatous damage.
Normal Tension Glaucoma (NTG)
 Open angle on gonioscopy
 IOP ≤21mm of Hg.
 Glaucomatous optic disc changes.
 Visual field defects.
 No. other secondary cause of glaucoma.
 Primary angle closure glaucoma was classified according to ISGEO[11] classification in
following types:
Primary Angle Closure Suspect (PACS)
 Irido-Trabecular Contact (ITC) ≥270 or angle grade ≤II.
 Normal IOP, optic disc and visual field.
Primary Angle Closure (PAC)
 ITC+.
 Raised IOP.
 PAS.
 Normal optic disc.
 No field defects.
Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma (PACG)
 PAC with optic disc changes/ Visual field defects.
Analysis was done using SPSS version 16. Chi square test was used as test of significance to
find the association between glaucoma and other variables.
RESULTS: There were total 200 patients. Among them, most commonly diagnosed glaucoma was
primary angle closure glaucoma 84(42%) followed by primary open angle glaucoma 63(32%).
Glaucoma suspects were 32(16%) while normal tension glaucoma was observed in 21(10%).
(Table 1).
Table 2 showed that Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma was the most common angle closure
Subtype, observed in 60(71.43%) patients followed by primary angle closure 15(17.86%) while
Primary angle closure suspect were observed in 9(10.71%) patients.

DOI: 10.14260/jemds/2015/638
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
J of Evolution of Med and Dent Sci/ eISSN- 2278-4802, pISSN- 2278-4748/ Vol. 4/ Issue 26/ Mar 30, 2015 Page 4414
In POAG group mean age of presentation among male patients was 56.07±11.29 years
whereas among female mean age of presentation was 55.92±11.29 years. In PACG group mean age of
presentation among male patients was 56.03±11.29 years whereas among female mean age of
presentation was 55.91±11.29 years. In glaucoma suspects mean age of presentation among male
patients was 55.84±12.06 years whereas among female mean age of presentation was 56.04±12.41
years. In NTG mean age of presentation among male patients was 56.24±11.69years whereas among
female mean age of presentation was 56.25±11.29 years. (Table 3).
POAG was most frequently seen in age group ≥65 years (36.50%) followed by 55-65 years
(31.74%). PACG was most common in age group 55-65 years (42.86%). The disease burden of
glaucoma was seen more in higher age group and this difference was found to be statistically
significant (ᵡ2=18, df=9, p=0.035). (Table 4).
Sex wise distribution of all patients is given in table 5. Males patients 106(53%) outnumbered
females 94(47%).
Sex wise distribution of glaucoma is given in Table 6 which showed that POAG was more
common in male patients 40(37.74%) as compared to females 23(24.7%). PACG was more commonly
seen in female patients 49(53.13%) as compared to male 35(33.02%). This difference was found to
be statistically significant (ᵡ2= 8.69, df=3, p=.034).
Total 44 patients (22%) had unilateral or bilateral blindness (as per WHO criteria). Among
these 44 patients 32(72.72%) had unilateral blindness and 12(27.27%) had bilateral blindness. POAG
caused unilateral blindness in 12(27.27%) and bilateral blindness in 8(18.18%) patients. PACG
caused unilateral blindness in 19(43.18%) and bilateral blindness in 3(6.81%) patients. (Table 7).
DISCUSSION: Worldwide open angle glaucoma is more common but among Asians prevalence of
angle closure glaucoma is more.[1,12] Das J et al[13] in a study of profile of glaucoma in a major eye
hospital in north india showed that PACG was the most common glaucoma subtype. Male dominance
was seen for POAG and female dominance was seen for acute or intermittent ACG glaucoma.
Ichhpujani P et al[14] in a hospital based study in North India showed that PACG was the most
common angle closure subtype. Ramakrishnan R et al[15] in glaucoma in a rural population of
southern India: the Aravind comprehensive eye survey showed that increasing age and male gender
were significantly associated with POAG. Dandona et al[8] in Angle-Closure glaucoma in an urban
population in southern India. The Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease Study observed increasing age and
female gender to be more common with angle closure glaucoma.
Our study also showed that most common type of glaucoma in this tertiary care center of
Kumaon region was primary angle closure glaucoma (42%) followed by primary open angle
glaucoma (32%), glaucoma suspect (16%) and NTG (10%). Prevalence of glaucoma was found to be
increasing with increase in age. POAG was more common in male patients and PACG was more
commonly seen in female patients and was found statistically significant.
In this study mean age of presentation in POAG group for males and female was 56.07±11.29
years and 55.92±11.29 years respectively. In PACG group mean age of presentation for male was
56.03±11.29 years and female was 55.91±11.29 years respectively. This was comparable to various
other studies.[8,13,14,15] Das et al[13] observed bilateral blindness in 8 to 14% of patients in various
subtypes of angle closure glaucoma while Ramakrishnan R et al[15] observed that 20.9% were blind in

DOI: 10.14260/jemds/2015/638
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
J of Evolution of Med and Dent Sci/ eISSN- 2278-4802, pISSN- 2278-4748/ Vol. 4/ Issue 26/ Mar 30, 2015 Page 4415
either eye due to POAG. In our study 22% had unilateral or bilateral blindness due to glaucoma.
Among these 22% patients, 10% blindness was due to POAG, 11% due to PACG and 1% due to NTG.
CONCLUSION: In our study most common glaucoma was primary angle closure glaucoma. PACG was
the most common angle closure subtype followed by PAC and PACS. Glaucoma was significantly
associated with increase in age in POAG and PACG. Male and female preponderance was found in
POAG and PACG respectively. 22% patients had unilateral or bilateral blindness due to glaucoma.
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11. Jacob A, Thomas R, Koshi SP. Prevalence of primary glaucoma in an urban south Indian
population. Ind J Ophthalmol 1998; 46: 81-6.
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primary angle-closure glaucoma. Surv Ophthalmol. 1992; 36 (6): 411- 23.
13. Das J, Bhomaj S, Chaudhuri Z, Sharma P, Negi A, Dasgupta A. Profile of glaucoma in a major eye
hospital in North India. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2001; 49 (1): 25-30.
14. Ichhpujani P, Pandav SS, Ramasubramanian A, Kaushik S. Profile of angle closure in a tertiary
care center in north India Indian J Ophthalmol. 2010; 58 (3): 199–203.
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DOI: 10.14260/jemds/2015/638
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
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GLAUCOMA SUBTYPES
NO. OF PATIENTS
PERCENTAGE (%)
POAG
63
32
PACG
84
42
NTG
21
10
GS
32
16
Total
200
100
Table 1: Distribution of Glaucoma in Study Subjects
GLAUCOMA SUBTYPE
No.
%
PACS
9
10. 71
PAC
15
17. 86
PACG
60
71. 43
TOTAL
84
100
Table 2: Subtypes of Primary Angle Closure
Glaucoma in Study Subjects
Sex
POAG
PACG
GS
NTG
MALE
56. 07±11. 29
56. 03±11. 29
55. 84±12. 06
56. 24 ±11. 69
FEMALE
55. 92 ±11. 29
55. 91 ±11. 29
56. 04±12. 41
56.25 11. 29
Table 3: Mean Age of presentation in Study Subjects
Age Group
(Years)
POAG
PACG
GS
NTG
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
35-45
10
15. 88
12
14. 29
9
28. 12
2
9. 53
45-55
10
15. 88
22
26. 19
10
31. 25
7
33. 33
55-65
20
31. 74
36
42. 86
10
31. 25
6
28. 57
≥65
23
36. 50
14
16. 66
3
9. 38
6
28. 57
Total
63
100
84
100
32
100
21
100
Table 4: Pattern of Glaucoma according to Age
Sex
No.
%
MALE
106
53
FEMALE
94
47
TOTAL
200
100
Table 5: Sex wise distribution of Study Subjects

DOI: 10.14260/jemds/2015/638
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
J of Evolution of Med and Dent Sci/ eISSN- 2278-4802, pISSN- 2278-4748/ Vol. 4/ Issue 26/ Mar 30, 2015 Page 4417
Sex
POAG
PACG
GS
NTG
Total
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
Male
40
37. 74
35
33. 02
17
16. 04
14
13. 20
106
100
Female
23
24. 47
49
52. 13
15
15. 96
7
7. 44
94
100
Table 6: Sex wise distribution of Glaucoma
Blindness
POAG
PACG
GS
NTG
Total
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
Unilateral
12
27. 27
19
43. 18
0
0
1
2. 27
32
72. 72
Bilateral
8
18. 18
3
6. 81
0
0
1
2. 27
12
18. 18
Total
20
22
0
0
2
44
100
Table 7: Blindness in Study subjects
AUTHORS:
1. Kalpana
2. Govind Singh Titiyal
3. Vimlesh Sharma
PARTICULARS OF CONTRIBUTORS:
1. 3rd Year Junior Resident, Department of
Ophthalmology, Government Medical
College, Haldwani, Uttarakhand.
2. Professor, Department of Ophthalmology,
Government Medical College, Haldwani,
Uttarakhand.
FINANCIAL OR OTHER
COMPETING INTERESTS: None
3. Assistant Professor, Department of
Ophthalmology, Government Medical
College, Haldwani, Uttarakhand.
NAME ADDRESS EMAIL ID OF THE
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:
Dr. Kalpana,
Room No. 67, First Floor,
Senior Resident Hostel,
Government Medical College Campus,
Haldwani-263139, Uttrakhand.
E-mail: ddrkalpana@gmail.com
<
Date of Submission: 15/02/2015.
Date of Peer Review: 16/02/2015.
Date of Acceptance: 18/03/2015.
Date of Publishing: 27/03/2015.