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Abstract #12294 Published in IGR 7-2
Intraocular pressure in rural communities hyperendemic for onchocerciasis and an urban community hypoendemic for onchocerciasis
Umeh RE; Ezegwur IRInternational Journal of Ophthalmology 2005; 5: 229-231
AIM: To compare the intraocular pressure distribution in onchocerciasis hyperendemic communities with the intraocular pressure distribution in a hypoendemic community. METHODS: Subjects were selected from 2 hyperendemic communities through multistage cluster random sampling. The anterior and posterior segments were examined. The intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured with Schiotz tonometer. Control subjects were drawn from a hypoendemic community and were assessed similarly. RESULTS: There were 360 subjects examined from the hyperendemic community. The mean IOP was 18.1 mmHg for the right eye and 18.0 mmHg for the left eye. A total of 100 randomized non-glaucoma patients drawn from an eye clinic in a hypoendemic community constituted the control. The mean IOP was 21.8 mmHg for the right eye and 21.5 mmHg for the left eye. The mean IOP in the hyperendemic community was 3.5 mmHg lower than that in the hypoendemic community. CONCLUSION: Onchocerciasis probably induces a low grade inflammation in the ciliary body, which leads to a lowering of IOP in the early stages.
Dr. I.R. Ezegwui, Department of Ophthalmology, Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki, Nigeria
Classification:
9.4.6 Glaucomas associated with inflammation, uveitis (Part of: 9 Clinical forms of glaucomas > 9.4 Glaucomas associated with other ocular and systemic disorders)
