Prevalence of Intraocular Hypertension and Glaucoma in an Unselected French Population

Abstract

Purpose: : In France, the prevalence of primary open angle glaucoma has been estimated at 2% of the population over 40 years old. Given the limited data available, we prompted an epidemiological survey on the prevalence of ocular hypertension and high pressure glaucoma in France. The principal objective of this survey was to evaluate the prevalence of ocular hypertension and high pressure glaucoma in subjects who were volunteers for a health assessment, and to find some risk factors.

Methods: : Clinical and laboratory data were collected during the screening program, as well as information on the way of life, and the personal and family medical history. All volunteers were subjected to an intra ocular pressure, IOP recording with an air tonometer. Those with an IOP above 21 mm Hg underwent a FDT (frequence doubling technology) visual field and a non stereoscopic photograph with a digital non mydriatic camera. Among 2 797 subjects, 2 165 subjects (i.e. 77.4%) agreed to participate. Altogether, 2 074 subjects (1 384 men and 690 women) were included in the study.

Results: : Intraocular pressure >21 mmHg was observed in 10.1% of men and 6.4% of women. This prevalence increased with age (from 5.3% for men aged between 18 and 39 years to 15.5% for men of 60 years and more; and from 3% to 7.5% for the same age groups in women).Glaucoma was confirmed in 2.2 % of men and in 3.0 % of women. Prevalence of glaucoma in men varied between 0.8% in the youngest subjects and 5.7% in subjects over 60 years, and between 0.6% and 4.7%, respectively in women.Logistic regression demonstrated that few parameters of the health assessment could be linked to intraocular pressure or glaucoma.

Conclusions: : This cross sectional study demonstrated that there is a higher prevalence of ocular hypertension and high pressure glaucoma than reported in currently published data. This study did not reveal any major factors that could be linked to ocular hypertension and glaucoma.

Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence • intraocular pressure