Ophthalmology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Ophthalmology, including details on eye surgery, myopia, cataracts.

The Prevalence and Types of Glaucoma in Malay People: The Singapore Malay Eye Study.

Shen SY, Wong TY, Foster PJ, Loo JL, Rosman M, Loon SC, Wong WL, Saw SM, Aung T

Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.

Purpose: To assess the prevalence and types of glaucoma in an Asian Malay population. Methods: The Singapore Malay Eye Study is a population-based cross-sectional survey that examined 3,280 (78.7% response) persons aged 40-80 years. Participants underwent a standardized clinical examination including slit-lamp biomicroscopy, Goldmann applanation tonometry and dilated optic disc assessment. Participants who were suspected to have glaucoma also underwent visual field examination (24-2 SITA standard, Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer II), gonioscopy and repeat applanation tonometry. Glaucoma was defined according to International Society for Geographical and Epidemiological Ophthalmology criteria. Results: Of the 3,280 participants, 150 (4.6%) were diagnosed to have glaucoma, giving an age- and gender-standardized prevalence of 3.4% (95%confidence interval [CI], 3.3-3.5%). The age- and gender-standardized prevalence of primary open-angle glaucoma was 2.5% (95%CI 2.4-2.6%), primary angle closure glaucoma 0.12% (95%CI 0.10-0.14%) and secondary glaucoma 0.61% (95%CI 0.59-0.63%). Of the 150 glaucoma cases, only 12 (8%) had a previous known history of glaucoma. Twenty-seven eyes (18%) had low vision (based on best corrected visual acuity LogMAR >0.30 to <1.00 in the eye with glaucoma for unilateral cases; and based on the better eye for bilateral cases) and 15 (10%) were blind (LogMAR >/=1.00). Conclusions: The prevalence of glaucoma among Malay persons 40 years and older in Singapore is 3.4%, comparable to ethnic Chinese people in Singapore and other racial/ethnic groups in Asia. As in white Caucasian populations, primary open-angle glaucoma was the main form of glaucoma in this population. More than 90% of glaucoma cases were previously undetected.

Published 28 April 2008 in Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Ophthalmology Research Today. All Rights Reserved.