Visual acuity and acute angle-closure glaucoma in Split-Dalmatia County

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of acute angle-closure glaucoma in Split-Dalmatia County and correlation between visual acuity and time (days) elapsed from the disease onset to hospital admission. Twenty-nine cases were retrospectively analyzed. There were 19 female patients aged 36-91 (median age 68) years and 10 male patients aged 35-88 (median age 70) years, with attacks of acute closure glaucoma treated at University Department of Ophthalmology, Split University Hospital Center from January 2002 until December 2005. Annual incidence was 1.6 cases per 100,000. The time elapsed from the disease onset to hospital admission was 1-21 (median 2) days. Visual acuity before and after treatment was reversely proportional to the number of days to hospital admission (d = -0.466; p = 0.011). Visual acuity was found to depend on age as well (z = 1.999; p = 0.044). The best visual acuity was obtained in those cases that were admitted within two days (z = 2.014; p = 0.044). There was no significant sex difference in the incidence of angle-closure glaucoma (t = 0.389; p = 0.699). No statistically significant association was found between acute angle-closure glaucoma and seasonal variation (chi2 = 5; p = 0.167). In conclusion, earlier recognition of the symptoms of acute angle-closure glaucoma and initiation of treatment within two days of the disease onset were associated with better visual acuity.