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Abstract #18404 Published in IGR 3-3
Intraocular pressure and gonioscopic findings in rural communities mesoendemic and nonendemic for onchoceriasis, Kaduna State, Nigeria
Yang YF; Cousens S; Murdoch IE; Babalola OE; Abiose A; Jones BEye 2001; 15: 756-659
PURPOSE: To report on glaucoma-related ocular parameters, namely intraocular pressure (IOP) and peripheral anterior synechiae, in the presence of onchocercal infection. METHODS: Two computer-generated random samples of individuals were drawn from communities mesoendemic and nonendemic for onchocerciasis, respectively. Applanation tonometry and gonioscopy were carried out on these individuals. RESULTS: Four hundred and thirty-six and 319 individuals from the mesoendemic and nonendemic communities, respectively, were examined. The mean IOP was 1.58 mmHg lower in individuals from the mesoendemic communities compared with those from the nonendemic communities (p < 0.001), despite the prevalence of peripheral anterior synechiae being higher in the mesoendemic communities. In these communities, there was strong evidence that the prevalence of peripheral anterior synechiae increased with increasing microfilarial load. CONCLUSIONS: Onchocercal infection produced a low-grade inflammatory process, which may result in a lowering of IOP despite the formation of peripheral anterior synechiae. Therefore, glaucomatous optic nerve damage may not be the primary cause of visual loss in ocular onchocerciasis as this occurs late and is probably preceded by other blinding onchocercal pathology.
Mr Y.F. Yang, Moorfields Eye Hospital, 162 City Road, London EC1V 2PD, UK. yyfung@apl.com
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)
