Intraocular pressure in the Beninese:: screening for primary open-angle glaucoma

Purpose: To describe the main characteristics of intraocular pressure (IOP) in Benin, the frequency of ocular hypertension (OHT) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Material and methods: A retrospective study was conducted in a private ophthalmological clinic in Cotonou, Benin, between January 1 and June 30, 2001. It involved 4159 patients aged 20 years and over in whom IOP was systematically measured within a glaucoma screening program. The parameters studied were age, sex, and IOP. Results: The patients recruited were between 20 and 85 years old. The age group from 41 to 50 years was the largest (30.1%); 56.4% of the sample were women. IOP values ranged from 8 to 60 mmHg: 52.3% were lower or equal to 13 mmHg. For both sexes, IOP followed a Gaussian distribution, with a peak between 11 and 13 mmHg. OHT frequency was 3.8%, with a male predominance and a regular increase with age. Among the OHT cases, 41.6% were isolated OHT and 58.4% of the POAGs turned out. Of the glaucoma patients, 16% were less than 40 years old, 25% were under 30 years old. Conclusion: In this study, it was found that the IOP peak was low and glaucoma appeared prematurely in the Beninese population. Glaucoma screening must therefore be set up from the age of 20 years and even earlier.