Distribution of ocular perfusion pressure and its relationship with intraocular pressure in patients with primary open angle glaucoma in Enugu, South East, Nigeria.

Abstract

Background:

Ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) has been suggested as a possible risk factor for the development and progression of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).

Aim:

To determine the distribution of OPP and its relationship with intraocular pressure (IOP) in Nigerian patients with POAG.

Patients and Methods:

: A descriptive and comparative survey was adopted. A total of 120 subjects, 60 newly diagnosed POAG and 60 non-glaucomatous (NG) subjects, aged 40 years and above, who attended the ophthalmic clinic of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu were recruited over a six-month period in 2019. All the subjects had ocular examination, blood pressure and IOP measurements. Statistical package for social sciences software version 25 was used for data analysis. Chi-square test, independent samples t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test were used for comparison while Pearson correlation and simple linear regression were used to ascertain the relationship. A P value of <0.05 was considered significant.

Result:

The mean age of the participants was 57.9 + 11.9 years. The mean OPP was found to be significantly lower in the POAG subjects (Right eye, R = 43.6 ± 12.6, Left eye, L = 41.9 ± 13.3) mmHg compared with the NG group (R = 53.9 ± 10.9, L = 53.7 ± 10.9) mmHg (p < 0.001 for both eyes). A significant inverse relationship was observed between OPP and IOP in POAG subjects (p < 0.001), while there was none in NG subjects.

Conclusion:

OPP was lower in POAG subjects than in NG subjects. The observed relationship suggests that reduced OPP may play a role in the development of POAG.

• Authors: I C Arinze, S N Onwubiko, N Z Nwachukwu, F C Maduka-Okafor, A E Aghaji, M O Nkwegu, E N Onwasigwe
• Journal: Nigerian journal of clinical practice (Niger J Clin Pract) Vol. 25 Issue 9 Pg. 1430-1434 (Sep 2022) ISSN: 1119-3077 [Print] India
• PMID: 36149201 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Aged
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Glaucoma
• Glaucoma, Open-Angle (epidemiology)
• Intraocular Pressure
• Nigeria (epidemiology)
• Perfusion
• Tonometry, Ocular