Factors Associated with Open-Angle Glaucoma among Iraqi Patients

Abstract

Background: Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness world wide and 22.5 million people are estimated to suffer from it. Open angle glaucoma is more prevalent form of glaucoma than closed angle glaucoma blindness can be avoided if glaucoma treated early.

Objectives: There are many factors associated with open angle glaucoma this study is performed to assess The most important factors that associated with open angle glaucoma among Iraqi patients who had glaucoma attending AL-Yarmook teaching hospital

Methods: Across sectional study was conducted at AL-Yarmook hospital in Baghdad from October 2013 till June 2014 one hundred fifty 150 glaucomatous patients age >35 years both sexes were included in this study .open Angle glaucoma was diagnosed by ophthalmologist depending on the American Academy of Ophthalmology 2012 the data were obtained by using an interview questionnaire that was applied to patient with open angle glaucoma. The data include the age, sex. family history and clinical data which include intra ocular pressure ,Myopia, smoking, history of hypertension, diabetes and using systemic drugs as corticosteroid the data was analyzed by SPSS.

Results: The study included 150 patients with open angle glaucoma. almost half of the patients were above 65 years, the rate of open angle glaucoma is more in those who have I.O.P.>20 mm Hg (92%) ,myopia 65%family history72%, history of hypertension 63%, history of diabetes 53%,history of taking steroid 59% and smoking 52%. Open angle glaucoma was significantly associated with intra ocular pressure 0.0001, myopia P0.001, family history 0.0005, history of hypertension 0.001, and history of taking steroid 0.01. it show that there is no significant association with history of diabetes and smoking (P 0.1,0.2 ) respectively.

Conclusion: This study show that old age, intra ocular pressure, Myopia, family history, history of hypertension and history of taking steroid are risk factors for open angle glaucoma.

Recommendation: education of the people about risk factor associated with glaucoma and routine checking of I.O.P for old age and patients with hypertension and diabetic