[High intraocular pressure and open angle glaucoma].

PURPOSE: To study the correlation between high intraocular pressure and the primitive glaucoma with opened angle among beninese patients.

METHOD: Our study was accomplished in the ophtalmological department of the university national hospital center of Cotonou. It was retrospective with descriptive and analytical aim and extended over a period of 3 years going from January 1st, 2007 till December 31st, 2009. It took into account all the patients' files having presented high intraocular pressure and to whom the search for primitive glaucoma with opened angle was carried out.

RESULTS

Among 9406 patients received in consultation during the period of study, 129 (corresponding with 258 eyes) presented high intraocular pressure that is 1.37%. The age of the patients was included between 11 years and 82 years, with a medium age of 54.48 years ±13.94 years. Male subjects prevailed (57%), with a sex ratio of 1.3. All the patients (100%) consulted for visual decline by far, by near or both at the same time. A significant number of eyes (80 eyes - 31%) had a vision by far lower or equal with 3/10. The values of ocular pressure were included between 22 mmHg and 62 mmHg, with an average of 28.13 mmHg ±6.06 mmHg. The ratios cup/disc varied from 0.3 to 1 with a medium cup/disc of 0.46±0.34. The examination of the field of vision with the automatic perimeter showed deteriorations of glaucoma type in 170 eyes (65.89%). High ocular pressure, optic disc glaucoma excavation and visual field defects were associated in 58.13% of the cases with a coefficient of correlation (r) higher than 0.87.

DISCUSSION: Although the high intraocular pressure does not allow to confirm the diagnosis of primitive glaucoma with opened angle, it constitutes an essential risk factor.

CONCLUSION

We showed in this study that in 58.13% of the cases, there is a correlation between the high intraocular pressure and the primitive glaucoma with opened angle. Efforts must be made to sensitize our populations on the existence of this serious affection that is primitive glaucoma with opened angle and on its early tracking which begins with the measure of the eye pressure.