Primary angle-closure glaucoma among Alaskan Eskimos.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Angle-closure glaucoma (ACG) is a significant cause of vision loss.
• Understanding the prevalence and risk factors of ACG in specific populations is crucial for targeted interventions.
• The Alaskan Native population presents a unique demographic for studying glaucoma epidemiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of angle-closure glaucoma in the Eskimo population of the Norton Sound and Bering Straits region of Alaska.
• To identify demographic risk factors associated with angle-closure glaucoma in this population.
• To assess the prevalence of shallow anterior chambers and occludable angles.

Main Methods:

• An epidemiological survey was conducted among 1673 Alaskan Natives.
• Ophthalmic examinations included gonioscopy to assess chamber angles.
• Data on intra-ocular pressure and anterior chamber depth were collected.

Main Results:

• Fourteen cases (0.8%) of angle-closure glaucoma were identified.
• Prevalence was higher in women (1.2%) than men (0.5%), increasing significantly with age.
• Women over 60 had an 11.8% prevalence; shallow anterior chambers were twice as common in women. Occludable angles were found in 7.5% of women and 2% of men over 30.

Conclusions:

• Angle-closure glaucoma is present in the Alaskan Native population, with notable gender and age-related disparities.
• Shallow anterior chambers and occludable angles are more prevalent in women, suggesting a higher risk for ACG.
• The absence of primary open-angle glaucoma warrants further investigation into the specific ocular characteristics of this population.