The Prevalence of Glaucoma among the Jirel Ethnic Group in Nepal: the Jiri Eye Study

Abstract

Purpose : The Jiri Eye Study (JES) is a collaborative research project between the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, and Miami and Wright State Universities. The objectives of the project are to (1) document the epidemiology of eye health and disease in the Jirel ethnic group of Nepal, (2) characterize the genetic determinants of normal eye health, and (3) identify the genetic mechanisms influencing ocular disease. This report specifically examines the characteristics and impact of glaucoma on the Jirel population.

Methods : A cross-sectional population-based survey of 791 subjects (333 male, 458 female) evaluated during the first three of six field visits. Subjects completed questionnaires detailing medical history and received comprehensive eye exams with ancillary testing including, but not limited to, corneal pachymetry, automated visual field testing, and ocular coherence tomography. Glaucoma diagnoses made in field were confirmed via criteria from the San Antonio Family Eye Study (SAFES). Statistical analyses were performed to establish disease prevalence and additional features of ocular pathology within this population.

Results : In this study, 2.28% of participants were found to have glaucoma in at least one eye (8 male, 10 female), including 1.39% subjects with open angles and 0.89% with angle closure. NTG (normal tension glaucoma) contributed to the number of subjects with open angle glaucoma at a ratio of 1.75:1. Average vertical cup to disc ratio of non-glaucoma subjects was 0.62 and 0.76 in those with glaucoma.

Conclusions : Until now, no population based data has been available regarding prevalence and subtypes of glaucoma among the Jirel ethnic group. Our study reveals many of the same distinctive glaucoma findings in the Jirel population as that of other Asian populations. POAG (primary open angle glaucoma) remains the most common subtype of glaucoma, however PACG (primary angle closure glaucoma) is more prevalent than in studies of white populations or those of African descent. Furthermore NTG makes up the majority of open-angle glaucoma in the Jirel population; similar to other Asian population based-studies. Females were affected at a ratio of 1.25:1 compared to men.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.