Abstract
Purpose::
To evaluate a screening form as a potential tool to identify primary angle closure (PAC) risk factors in the Colombian population.
Methods::
A total of 131 volunteers with ages between 50 and 78 (mean 65,9) were evaluated. The screening form designed by us includes: height, intraocular pressure (IOP), gonioscopy (Spaeth Grading system), pachymetry, anterior chamber depth (ACD), axial length, lens position and thickness, and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Angle closure Classification was based in Foster publication.Different groups were classified as normal (n=90) primary angle closure suspects (PACS, n=19), and Glaucoma Suspects (n=22). Comparisons among the groups were performed using SPSS software.
Results::
Mean Height in PACS (14.5 %) was shorter than the comparison group. Despite the lower percentage of women in this population (30%) they were almost half of the cases of PACS (9 women and 10 men). Axial length (AL) and Anterior Chamber Deep (ACD) were also shorter in these eyes. The position and thickness of the lens were also different between groups.The pachimetry did not show any significant difference in any of the groups.22 (16.8 %) of the subjects were considered Glaucoma suspects base on IOP over 24 mmHg (n=5),excavations over 0.6 (n=13) and 1 case of unilateral pseudoexfoliation with IOP of 26 mmHg.The Spaeth gonioscopic grading system (as part of our evaluation instrument), was easy to apply. Nearly 70% of persons considered as Primary Angle Closure (PACS) had been evaluated in the past two years by an Ophthalmologist.
Conclusions::
The screening form is a new and important tool to assess the importance of biometric and demographic risk factors for the detection of Angle Closure. Our population showed a high proportion of Primary Angle Closure suspects. Women, small range of height and smaller eyes are easily identifiable and at a higher risk.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: biostatistics/epidemiology methodology • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled clinical trials