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Clinical and demographic characteristics of glaucoma patients in Kingston, Jamaica

Briana L McIntosh1, Osahon J Asowata1, Kaitlyn L Funk2

  • 1Center for Health Disparities, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Room 6S10, 600 Moye Blvd, Greenville, NC, 27834, USA.

International Ophthalmology
|April 29, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Glaucoma patients in Jamaica often present with advanced disease and poor treatment adherence. Further research is needed to develop region-specific data and improve eye care equity.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Public Health
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness globally.
  • Characterizing glaucoma in specific populations is crucial for targeted interventions.
  • Jamaica's largest public eye care facility serves a diverse patient demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the clinical, demographic, and imaging characteristics of adult glaucoma patients at Kingston Public Hospital (KPH).
  • To identify key features of glaucoma presentation in a Jamaican population.
  • To inform strategies for improving glaucoma management in the region.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective, cross-sectional chart review of 324 adult glaucoma patients (2018-2023).
  • Inclusion criteria: ≥2 ophthalmic exams and ≥1 high-quality optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan.
  • Data collected: demographics, intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity, OCT parameters (optic nerve head, RNFL), visual field (VF) metrics, comorbidities, and treatment adherence.

Main Results:

  • 51% of patients presented with advanced glaucoma; 17.3% reported consistent medication use.
  • Common comorbidities: hypertension (80.3%) and diabetes (38.8%).
  • Mean RNFL thickness: 75.2 ± 14.9 μm; mean cup-to-disc ratio: 0.73 ± 0.10. Moderate visual field loss observed, with worse outcomes in men.

Conclusions:

  • Glaucoma in Jamaica is characterized by a high prevalence of advanced disease and low treatment adherence.
  • Significant gaps exist in longitudinal monitoring of visual field progression.
  • Need for prospective studies to establish ancestry- and region-specific OCT reference data for equitable glaucoma care.
Abstract

Keywords:
African Caribbean populationOptical coherence tomographyPrimary open-angle glaucoma

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