Epidemiologic and clinic characteristics of patients with chronic simple glaucoma

Abstract

Introduction: Glaucoma is one of the most prevalent eye diseases worldwide and is characterized by high intraocular pressure, changes in the papilla and visual field alterations. Objective: To characterize patients with chronic simple glaucoma according to epidemiologic and clinical variables. Methods: An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study of 96 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma was carried out, who were assisted in the Ophthalmology Service of Alberto Fernández Montes de Oca Teaching Polyclinic of San Luis municipality, in Santiago de Cuba province, from January to July, 2019. Results: In the series there was a prevalence of the male sex, the 60 to 69 age group, and dark-skinned patients, besides hypertension and ocular hypertension as associated risk factors. On the other hand, most of those affected presented visual acuteness between 1.0-0.6, intraocular pressure figures between 16-21 mmHg and papillary excavation between 0.6-0.7, with important damage in the visual field. Conclusions: The epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma were useful to establish the prognosis and trace effective therapeutic guidelines, in order to avoid the advanced phase of the disease and the irreversible damage that occurs in the optic nerve.

Keywords

• glaucoma crónico simple
• neuropatía óptica crónica
• factores de riesgo
• atención primaria de salud.