Prevalence of ocular pseudoexfoliation in Baso and Worena District, central Ethiopia

Background: Pseudoexfoliation syndrome is an accumulation of fibrillary extracellular material in the anterior segment of the eye. It is the most common identifiable cause of glaucoma. Objective: To assess the prevalence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome and its association with high intraocular pressure and glaucoma in Baso and Worena District, central Ethiopia. Methods and subjects: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Baso and Worena District, central Ethiopia, from 09 January to 08 February 2018. After a systematic random selection of participants, a questionnaire was administered. Study participants were then examined to assess the anterior segment of their eyes (using a portable slit lamp), measure intraocular pressure (using a Tono-pen AVIA®), and assess the dilated fund us of each eye (using a direct ophthalmoscope). Results: A total of 682 people above 40 years of age were examined. The study participants’ ages ranged from 40 to 89 years. The prevalence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome was found to be 13.2% for patients ≥40 years old (90/682), 17.6% for those ≥50 years old (85/483), 23.1% for those ≥60 years old (74/320), 34.1% for those ≥70 years old (42/123), and 27.8% for those ≥80 years old (5/18). Seventy one (78.9%) of the 90 participants who were found to have pseudoexfoliation syndrome had bilateral involvement and 19 (21.1%) had unilateral involvement. Prevalence increased with age and was highest for those aged 70 to 79. In twenty nine (32.2%) of the 90 cases, pseudoexfoliation syndrome was associated with high intraocular pressure, and 13 (14.4%) had high intraocular pressure and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma. Conclusions and recommendations: Pseudoexfoliation syndrome is common in Baso and Worena District, central Ethiopia. It represents one of the major risk factors for glaucoma. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2020; 34(1):54-58] Key words: Pseudoexfoliation syndrome, glaucoma, intraocular pressur

Glaucoma awareness and knowledge among adults in woliso town, South West Ethiopia

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and it is next to cataract as common cause of blindness [1-4]. The global prevalence of glaucoma for population aged 40–80 years is 3.5%. The magnitude of glaucoma is expected to keep increasing with the world population growth and increasing number of ageing people [5]. Ninety percent of affected people in the developing countries and 50% in developed world do not know that they have the disease [6]. In Sub-Saharan Africa glaucoma is more prevalent and has been considered as a major public health issue for the region [7,8]. Up to 50% of glaucoma patients are already blind at least in one eye at presentation in Africa including Ethiopia [7,9].&nbsp;</p

Efficacy and Safety of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty among Ethiopian Glaucoma Patients

Background. Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is a safe and effective treatment modality for lowering intraocular pressure (IOP). Purpose. To determine the efficacy and safety of SLT among Ethiopian patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG), and ocular hypertension (OHT). Method. A prospective, nonrandomized interventional study was conducted at Menelik II Hospital, Ethiopia. Patients on antiglaucoma medication with uncontrolled IOP and those patients treated for the first time with 360 degrees of SLT were included. Success was defined as an IOP lowering of > 20% from baseline without repeat treatment. Result. A total of 95 eyes of 61 patients with a diagnosis of OAG and OHT were enrolled. The diagnosis was POAG in 55 (57.9%) eyes, PXG in 22 (23.2%) eyes, and OHT in 18 (18.9%) eyes. Seventy (73.7%) eyes were on medications, and 25 (26.3%) eyes were treated with laser as primary therapy. The mean (SD) baseline IOP and medication were 24.3 ± 2.5 mmHg and 1.29 ± 1.01, respectively. The one-year mean (SD) IOP reduction was 6.7 ± 4.2 mmHg and medication reduction was 0.26 ± 1.34. The overall IOP reduction at 12 months was 27.6%, and the success rate was 60%. The mean IOP (SD) reduction for patients who were treated for the first time with laser and on antiglaucoma medication was 6.5 ± 3.1 mmHg and 6.8 ± 2.8 mmHg, respectively. Post-SLT, patients experienced transient ocular pain, brow ache, headache, and/or blurring of vision in 31.6%, anterior chamber reaction in 36.8%, and IOP spike ≥ 6 mmHg in 11.6%. Conclusion. SLT is an effective and safe treatment modality for OHT, POAG, and PXG among Ethiopian patients either as a first-line treatment or as an adjunct to topical glaucoma treatment