Optometry and Vision Science

Biography

Biography: Kumale Tolesa Daba

Abstract

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, accounting for 15% of blindness. According to WHO estimate,
people with high Intraocular pressure (IOP), >21 mm Hg, are around 104.5 million. People who are blind due to glaucoma
are estimated to be 8 million. To date glaucoma community screening is a point of controversy. The aim of this study was to
determine the proportion of glaucoma among adults aged 40 years and above who had participated on a community screening
program in Jimma University, Department of Ophthalmology. A cross-sectional study was conducted among volunteer
residents of Jimma town and surrounding area with age 40 years and above who came on a community screening program
conducted after media announcement. The participants were interviewed by trained data collectors and complete ophthalmic
examination was performed in all cases by general ophthalmologists or/and glaucoma specialist. The data was analyzed using
SPSS for Windows version 16.0 software. X2 test was performed and P-value<0.05 was considered significant. Of the adults
who came for the screening, 47 (10.24%) were diagnosed to have glaucoma, 59 (12.85%) were glaucoma suspects, and 8
(1.74%) had ocular hypertension. The prevalence of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) was the highest (42.55% of all new
glaucoma cases, and 4.4% of all screened adults). Around 5.7% of all glaucoma cases were found to be blind. Female sex, lower
level of education, high blood pressure, and higher intraocular pressure were associated with glaucoma (P- value<0.05, 99%
CI). Female sex and younger age group were associated with POAG, whereas older age was associated with Pseudoexfoliative
glaucoma (P-value<0.05, 99% CI). Glaucoma awareness creation and glaucoma community screening should be promoted for
early diagnosis and intervention to prevent irreversible blindness.