A high prevalence of occludable angles in a Vietnamese population

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Public Health
• Glaucoma Research

Background:

• Narrow iridocorneal angles are a risk factor for angle-closure glaucoma.
• Prevalence of narrow angles varies significantly across different ethnic groups.
• Understanding population-specific risk factors is crucial for targeted screening and prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of occludable anterior chamber angles in a Vietnamese population.
• To compare the prevalence of narrow angles in Vietnamese individuals with data from other ethnic groups.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of angle status in 482 Vietnamese patients attending a general ophthalmology practice.
• Angle grading performed by a glaucoma specialist using the Shaffer method.
• Exclusion criteria included pre-existing glaucoma, known narrow angles, or history of ocular trauma/surgery.

Main Results:

• 29.5% of all Vietnamese patients and 47.8% of those aged 55 years or older had angles graded 0-2 (potentially occludable).
• In comparison, only 3.8% of white patients aged 55 years or older in the Framingham study had similar angle grades.
• 8.5% of the Vietnamese study population had grade 0-1 angles, indicating a high risk for angle occlusion.

Conclusions:

• Vietnamese individuals exhibit a substantially higher prevalence of narrow anterior chamber angles.
• This higher prevalence translates to a greater risk of developing angle-closure glaucoma in the Vietnamese population compared to white populations.
• Findings underscore the need for ethnic-specific glaucoma screening protocols.