advertisement
Abstract #13297 Published in IGR 8-1
Visual impairment and disc cupping among newly diagnosed patients with glaucoma
Ling CL; Bin OL; Tet CM; Vengadasalam SR; Leong NG; Tajudin L-SAAsian Journal of Ophthalmology 2005; 7: 140-145
AIM: To determine the presenting vision, cup-disc ratio, and referring diagnosis among newly diagnosed patients with glaucoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional observational study, 161 records of patients were selected from the archives at the Eye Clinic, Hospital Pulau Pinang, using systematic sampling. Patients were classified into 3 categories of good vision, low vision, or blind according to best-corrected visual acuity and visual field of the better eye. Cup-disc ratios of patients' worst eye at presentation were classified into severe cupping, moderate cupping, and mild cupping. The referral diagnosis and duration at presentation were analysed. RESULTS: Of the 161 newly diagnosed patients with glaucoma, 8.1% were blind and 14.9% had low vision. One-third of the patients had severe cupping, one-third had moderate cupping, and one-third had mild cupping. Among the patients with severe cupping, 60.5% still had functionally good vision at presentation. Only 5.6% of patients were correctly referred as either having glaucoma or to rule out glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: Detection of glaucoma is difficult and the diagnosis is often missed or delayed. A large number of newly diagnosed patients with glaucoma had severe disc cupping and were blind or had low vision at presentation. Screening of the optic disc by ophthalmoscopy for selected high-risk patients by primary care physicians could increase early detection and control of the disease.
Dr. C.L. Ling, Ophthalmology Department, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
Classification:
1.4 Quality of life (Part of: 1 General aspects)
2.14 Optic disc (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)
