Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma in Central Sri Lanka: the Kandy Eye Study

Abstract

Purpose: To report the prevalence and risk factors associated with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in the Kandy district of central Sri Lanka.

Methods: A cross-sectional, population-based ophthalmic survey of the inhabitants ≥ 40 years of age from villages in the Kandy District, Sri Lanka was conducted. Selection was randomized using a cluster sampling process; 1721 eligible participants were identified, 1375 participated in the study and sufficient examination data to diagnose glaucoma in at least one eye was obtained in 1244 participants. A detailed ophthalmic history and examination including ocular biometry was made of each participant. Primary open-angle glaucoma was classified into three levels according to diagnostic evidence.

Results: The overall prevalence of POAG was 2.3% (95% CI 1.5–3.2). In the univariate analyses, increasing age (P = 0.001), intraocular pressure (IOP) (P < 0.001), myopia (P < 0.001) and axial length (P = 0.003) were significantly associated with POAG. In the multivariate analysis, age (P = 0.001), mean IOP (P < 0.001) and mean axial length (P = 0.008) were significant risk factors of POAG.

Conclusions: The prevalence of POAG in the population aged ≥40 years in central Sri Lanka was 2.3%. POAG in this population was independently associated with increasing age, IOP and axial length.

KEYWORDS::

• Axial length
• Epidemiology
• Open-angle glaucoma
• Prevalence
• Risk factors
• Sri Lanka

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The KES was supported financially from an unrestricted grant from Pfizer Australia. This organization had no role in the design or conduct of this research.

Declaration of Interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.