Study of Different Types of Glaucoma Burden in Patient Visiting at a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Abstract

The word glaucoma originally meant 'clouded' in Greek;
as such, it may have referred either to a mature cataract or
to corneal edema that might result from chronic elevated
pressure.
• Glaucoma cases were defined according to the
International Society of Geographical and
Epidemiologic Ophthalmology (ISGEO) criteria
based on three categories. Category 1 cases were
defined as optic disc abnormality (VCDR/VCDR
asymmetry ‡ 97.5 percentile of the normal population
or NRR width between 11 and 1 O'clock or 5 and 7
O'clock reduced to_0.1 VCDR), with a corresponding
glaucomatous visual field defect. Category 2 cases
were defined as having a severely damaged optic
disc (VCDR or VCDR asymmetry ‡ 99.5 percentile) in
the absence of adequate performance in a visual field
[1,2] test.
• Glaucoma is the leading cause of global irreversible
blindness. It has been estimated that 60.5 million
people were affected by primary open-angle
glaucoma (POAG) and primary angle-closure
[3-5] glaucoma (PACG) globally in 2010.
• Globally, POAG affects more people than
angleclosure glaucoma (ACG) – with an approximate
[10] ratio of 3:1, and wide variations among populations.
Yet ACG manifests in a much more aggressive and
debilitating course (especially among Asians) than
was recognized a generation ago: its treatment
usually requires more than iridotomy alone, frequent
[11] medical or surgical intervention
• Glaucoma is generally asymptomatic until late in the
disease, at which point permanent visual problems
[6] arise. Therefore early detection and appropriate
[7] treatment is essential , which can be facilitated by
[13] better knowledge of glaucoma distribution.