The incidence of primary angle-closure glaucoma in Olmsted County, Minnesota

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the incidence of primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) and to assess the visual outcomes of patients treated for PACG.

Design: Population-based retrospective incidence study.

Setting and patients: Residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, aged 40 years and older and diagnosed with PACG in the 13-year period between January 1, 1980, and December 31, 1992.

Main outcome measure: Incident cases of PACG identified through the Medical Diagnostic Index of Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn, and the Rochester Epidemiology Project.

Results: Thirty-six incident cases were identified. The mean annual age-and sex-adjusted incidence per 100000 people aged 40 years and older was 8.3 (95% confidence interval, 5.6-11.0). The probability of monocular blindness associated with PACG at the time of diagnosis was 14%. Among patients not monocularly blind at diagnosis, the 5-year probability of developing monocular blindness associated with PACG was 4%.

Conclusions: Primary angle-closure glaucoma is an uncommon disease in our community. Most of the patients blinded by PACG were blind at the time the condition was diagnosed.