Primary Open Angle Glaucoma: Epidemiological, Clinical and Therapeutic Aspects of 63 Cases at National Hospital Center in Mauritania ()
1. Introduction
Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is an anterior optic neuropathy of chronic and progressive course, characterized by perimeter alteration and excavation of the specific optic disc [1]. This neuropathy is usually accompanied by ocular hypertension. The iridocorneal angle remains open in gonioscopy.
POAG is the primary cause of irreversible blindness in adults around the world, posing a real public health and quality of life problem as well as an economic problem. The progressive and irreversible loss of vision makes POAG a disease that can lead to blindness [1] [2]. The definition of this disease, in the epidemiological sense, is not perfectly clear. However, most of the studies have been carried out using the classic symptomatic triad: ocular hypertension, modification of the optical disc morphology (papillary excavation) and impairment of the visual field. The impairment of the visual structure and of the vision itself is retained, in the final analysis, as a criterion of the disease [3]. According to recent estimations of the prevalence of the disease, primary open-angle glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide after cataracts (46%) affecting around 66 million people [3]. The POAG is the most frequent of the glaucomas since it represents according to the regions and diagnostic criteria 50% to 70% of the total of the glaucomas and would be at the origin of 6.4 million cases of blindness in the world [4]. The prevalence of POAG is variable depending on the origin. It is relatively low in a European-type population (1% of people over 40 years), and is higher and earlier in blacks, which is more serious and difficult to treat [2]. In sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence varies from one country to another. It is 7% in Togo [5] and 4.2% in Mali, among people aged over 30 years 1998 [6]. Due to the asymptomatic nature of the disease in initial phase and slowly progressive course, many cases are not detected. There are very few data on the incidence of blindness from glaucoma. Data from the Canadian Institute of the Blind suggest that the incidence in Quebec is around 140 cases per year, corresponding to prevalence with 1260 cases [7].
The main objective of this work was to describe the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of primary open angle glaucoma in the ophthalmology department in the National Hospital Center of Nouakchott.
2. Patients and Method
It is a prospective, monocentric observational descriptive study for analytical purposes carried out over a period of six months (March 1st 2017 to August 30th 2017), in the ophthalmology department of the National Center Hospital of Nouakchott. We included all patients with open-angle glaucoma followed in the outpatient service of our department. Patients with closed angle glaucoma, as well as patients lost to follow-up during check-ups were excluded. After taking a full history and ophthalmological examination including, visual acuity, analysis of the anterior segment, measurement of the ocular pressure with automatic tonometer of Topcon, all patients are listed. Gonioscopy was carried out in all patients by using the Goldmann glass with three mirrors. The evaluation of the head of the optic nerve was carried out by slit lamp examination using a Volksuperfield lens and was confirmed by retinography. The central corneal thickness was measured using an ultrasonic pachymeter which allowed us to correct the value of the measured ocular pressure. The Octopusa visual field was performed each time the visual acuity allowed. (the clinical features of primary open-angle glaucoma are an open iridocorneal angle and cupping of the optic-nerve head (or optic disk), with corresponding loss of visual field. Elevated intra-ocular pressure is not part of the clinical definition because primary open-angle glaucoma can occur when intraocular pressure is normal). All patients received first-line medical treatment. Selective laser trabeculoplasty and open trabeculectomy were indicated as secondary treatment for POAG in 18 cases.
To assess compliance with medical treatment, the following elements were considered:
· Knowledge of the disease.
· Regularity of taking treatment.
· Voluntary interruption of treatment.
· Forgotten of the treatments in the seven days preceding the consultation.
· The regularity of the presentation at the meetings.
Data were collected using exploitation sheet and have been analyzed on IBM SPSS 20.
3. Results
From 488 patients only 63 (12.9%) patients were seen in specialized glaucoma consultation with Mean age of 58.7 years (19 - 77), the group age most affected were 50 - 59 years with 22 patients (34.9%) with sex ratio M/F was 1.42. The distribution of socio-demographic state and presentation of the patients are summarized in both Table 1 and Table 2.
In our study 61.9% of our patients had a visual acuity greater than 6/10 and 7.9% had a negative light perception (NLP). Associated cataract was found in 22.2% of our patients. Photomotor reflex was negative in 8%.
The average of the ocular pressure in our patients was 27.34 mmHg ± 5.86 (13 mmHg - 50 mmHg). In 47% of our patients an average value of 1.6 mmHg was added to the measured IOP. All patients had a 360-degree open angle.
![]()
Table 1. The socio-demographic and clinical characteristics.
![]()
Table 2. Distribution by reason of consultation.
The eyes with a cup/disc ratio between 0.3 and 0.7 were 59.5% and 40% had a cup/disc between 0.8 - 1. Nasal rejection of the vessels was noted in 85% of the patients. No peripapillary hemorrhage was observed.
The chief plaints were the reduced visual acuity followed by the head ache (Table 2).
As monotherapy, beta blockers (BB) are the most prescribed (55.5% of patients), while in dual therapy the combination of a beta blocker with a prostaglandin analogue is the most used (7.9% of patients).
In triple therapy, the combination of a beta-blocker with a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor and prostaglandin analogue is the most prescribed (12.7%) (Table 3).
Trabeculectomy was indicated in 18 patients and 3 of them refused the operative procedure.
Nine patients were benefited from isolated filter surgery, while 5 Patients were undergone combination surgery.
The average eye pressure before trabeculectomy was 25.7 mmHg.
All the patients had undergone an ophthalmological examination with eye pressure measurement on Day 1, 1st month, 2nd months, 3rd months and 6th months respectively.
We considered the surgery to be successful if the Ocular Pressure fall down below 20 mmHg without any hypotonizing treatment during the first three months.
Five patients had kept an Ocular pressure at 22 mmHg and were on monotherapy.
The success rate of surgery was 69.8% in our series.
No complications were noted, but 11% of our patients had refused any kind of treatment.
Thirty-one (50%) of our patient have some knowledge about disease, while 31% used the treatment regularly, whereas 8% have stopped their treatment spontaneously (Table 4).
4. Discussion
The World Health Organization estimated that 4.5 million people were affected by POAG blindness in 2008 worldwide; which represents more than 12% of the world blindness rate [8]. POAG is the most common glaucoma in the West and in Africa. Depending on the region, it represents 50% to 70% of all glaucoma [9].
In white populations aged 40 and over, prevalence between 1.1% and 2.1% is
![]()
Table 3. Therapeutic classes used in our patients.
![]()
Table 4. Distribution of patients according to different methods of measuring compliance.
reported from the results of various studies carried out around the world. The prevalence in black subjects is 3 to 4 times higher than in the whites, with at least 4 times more blindness [10]. In the United States, approximately 15% of blind subjects are due to POAG.
In Morocco, a national survey was carried out in 1992 by the epidemiological assessment team of blindness and concluded that the gross point prevalence of blindness in Morocco is 0.76%, that of the decrease in bilateral vision of 2.27%, and that of unilateral vision loss 2.8% [11]. Glaucoma represented 14.3% of the etiologies of this blindness constituting the second cause after cataract. Lower incidence has recently been demonstrated in the Visual Impairment Project, carried out in Melbourne, Australia (1.1% for suspect and certain POAGs), and in the Rotterdam Study (5-year risk of 1.8% for suspicious and some POAGs). The two studies mentioned above, the incidence increases significantly with age [12]. Frequency of disease increases with age, passing beyond 5% in subjects over 65 years old. In the Baltimore Eye survey, the prevalence of glaucoma is 3.5 times higher for subjects between 70 and 80 years old compared to those between 40 and 50 years [13]. The age of onset of glaucoma is, however, variable depending on the series. Mean age in our study is 58.7 years ± 11.6 which is comparable with the finding of the A. Chakiband all (10), Fifties and sixties age groups were the most represented, Distribution of patients by sex showed a male predominance with 58.7% of men and 41.3% women which is lower than that of A. Chakib [11] who found a predominance of the male sex at 73.6%.
In Wales, Beaver Dam and Melbourne studies no statistical association with sex was found [14].
In our study, the black race was the most affected with 55.6%, which is comparable with the finding of Baltimore study (12), Statistically, POAG is more common in black subjects. In the Baltimore Eye Survey [13], black subjects had 3 to 4 times more glaucoma than white subjects.
However, it is believed that the abundance of pigments in melanodermal subjects are responsible for the obstruction of the trabecular meshwork, the place of excretion of the aqueous humor which is blocked and so causes ocular hypertension responsible for POAG.
Family history of glaucoma in this study was present in 39.7% while Z. Fadou [15] found 37.1%. Family history is also a risk factor for glaucoma.
The Baltimore study indicates that the relative risk of having a POAG increases approximately 3.7 times when individuals have parents who are themselves glaucomatous. In the Rotterdam study, relatives of a patient with glaucoma have a greatly increased risk of developing glaucoma (Relative Risk: 9.2) [15].
In our study, confirmed diabetic was found in 12.7% of patients which is higher than that founded by Carlos E. Rivera and all [16], which was (4.8%), on the other hand both are lower than that founded by Z. Fadou [15], where 28.6% of patients were diabetic. Several studies report an increased prevalence of POAG in diabetic populations.
In the Rotterdam Study and the Blue Mountains Eye Study, diabetic patients have a risk of developing glaucoma approximately 2 to 3 times higher than non-diabetic patients; the Beaver Dam Study finds the same trend, but without reaching the same statistical significance. In contrast, the Baltimore Eye Study and the Visual Impairment Project show no link between diabetes and glaucoma.
In our study, 23.8% of patients were followed for hypertension which is lower than that founded in the series of O. laplace et al. (2006) [17] 30% of cases and that finded by Z. Fadou [15] 33.6%.
An association between blood pressure and ocular perfusion pressure have been reported. In a 9-year longitudinal study, increases in IOP in black subjects were correlated with hypertension and diabetes. The role of hypertension as a risk factor for the appearance of glaucoma appears less clear, some studies show an important link, between glaucoma and high IOP, approximately multiplied by 2 [15].
In our study, myopia was founded in 23.6% of cases that is higher than that founded by O. Laplace et al. (2006) series [17], 13.1%.
An association has been reported between POAG and myopia. Because the patients with a refractive problem consult more often, and therefore have a higher probability than emmetropes of being detected earlier. The association of a POAG and myopia can both complicate diagnosis and treatment.
In this study 88.9% of the patients had consulted for an RVA; which joins the series of Z. Fadou [15], 90.7% in 2012. The study shows 61.9% of our patients had corrected visual acuity greater than 6/10 in the right eye and 57.1% in the left eye, while Z. Fadouand al. [15] found 52.9% of the right eyes and 52.1% of the left eyes had more than 6/10. However, in 2012 Sounouvou [18] found in his study 47.3% of the right eyes and 43.8% of the left eyes had more than 6/10. There is no correlation between visual acuity and the severity of glaucoma.
The pictorial expression which marks the memory illustrates it well "the blind man who reads 10/10, it is chronic glaucoma at the pre-terminal stage!" Because the central vision responsible for the acuity is affected last while the peripheral vision has been affected for a long time.
The assessment of a deficit in the afferent pupillary reflex can detect an asymmetric lesion of the optic nerve, which is a common and important sign in glaucoma.
Eight percent of the cases presented an absent photomotor reflex. The lens is usually better examined after dilation. The study of the transparency of the lens is essential in the decision of a combined surgery. The presence of phacodonesis, pseudo capsular exfoliation, and dislocation should be noted for the differential diagnosis of POAG.
Associated cataract (22.2%) was noted in this study, which is comparable of that of Z. Fadou [15] who found 25% of an associated cataract.
Eye pressure values in our patients ranged from 13 mmHg to 50 mmHg, with an average of 27.34 mmHg ± 5.86.
The average ocular hypertension observed in the study of S. Chabi [5] is 28.13 mmHg ± 6.06; Balo [19] reports ocular hypertension between 20 mmHg and 29 mmHg in a study on the intraocular pressure of the Togolese population. Bernadin [2] found in Madagascar values of intraocular pressure oscillating between 21 and 28 mmHg. The average ocular hypertension in Sommer’s study in Baltimore is 24.15 ± 5.23 mmHg.
In our study, the iridocorneal angle (ICA) was open 360 degrees in the absence of any sign suggestive of secondary glaucoma (neovessels, exfoliation material, etc.) confirming the diagnosis of POAG.
In our study, eyes with a cup/disc ratio between 0.3 and 0.7 predominated with 59.5%; 40% had a cup/disc between 0.8 - 1, while Z. Fadou [15] reported that 12.2% had a cup/disc at 1.
The average pachymetry in our patients was 522.16 microns ± 41.45, which is comparable to that of A. Fanny et al. [10] and Bron et al. [4].
In our study 55% of our patients had a thickness < 530 microns which is comparable to the series of A. Fanny et al. [10] which reports 57.6% of thin corneas < 527 microns.
The visual fields produced showed glaucomatous alterations in 96.5%, which is coherent to the series of Tchabi (2011) [5] who found 99.2% of cases glaucomatous campimetric lesions.
In our study, 31.75% of the lesions were beginning, that is to say revealing a general decrease in sensitivity; 38% of the lesions were moderate with scanty beginners’ scotomas and 22.75% of the lesions were severe showing scotomas extended to at least 02 dials. The visual field changes mainly concerned the scotoma of Bjerrum and the nasal projection. In this study, monotherapy was the most used treatment regimen, 60.4% of cases at the first consultation, which is consistent with the BRON series (58.2%) [4].
In first therapeutic stage, treatment is generally initiated with a simple mono therapy with eye drops, unless the initial IOP is very high; in this case, two or more treatments can be indicated up to a quadritherapy which is the maximum treatment. Prostaglandin analogs with a single daily instillation are the most effective agents for reducing IOP and have the best tolerated systemic side effects.
Surgical treatment is generally undertaken as a second line when medical treatment is not tolerated, ineffective or improperly used by the patient or because of the cost of treatment, and glaucoma remains insufficiently controlled with either documented progression of the lesions or high risk of new lesions. The results of the Collaborative Initial Glaucoma Treatment Study (CIGTS) [20] confirm that first-line surgical treatment allows better control of IOP than does first-line medical treatment.
However, these results do not translate into better stabilization of the visual field, since patients who have had first-line surgical treatment have a higher risk of long-term cataracts [20]. In our study 11.34% benefited from a trabeculectomy with a success rate of 69.8%. This rate is comparable to that of Z. Fadou [15] who found a success rate of 78.5%. No complications were noted in our study. Compliance is a complex, multifaceted variable in the treatment of any disease that requires self-medication. Its evaluation by direct and indirect methods is difficult and the values depend on the criteria used [1]. According to Delfraisy [21], adherence to medical treatment is defined as behavior according to which the patient takes his medication with regularity and optimality, according to the conditions prescribed and explained by the doctor. For Fogarty et al. [22], compliance is defined as the ability of a person to take treatment according to a given prescription. The direct costs of treating primary open-angle glaucoma are correlated with the severity of the pathology and the number of treatments required.
The costs are lowest when the initial treatment of the patient is maintained as long as possible.
In Mauritania, the monthly cost of monotherapy is equivalent to 5 $, which increase to 20 $ in case of dual therapy.
In our study 60% of patients knew about the chronic nature of POAG, 57% knew that, in the absence of treatment, POAG progressed to irreversible blindness; 47.5% respected the regularity of the schedules for taking treatment. According to Vincent [23], the compliance rate varied from 52% to 73%. These different variations are linked, on the one hand to the sample size, and on the other hand to the criteria studied. The overall compliance rate found in our study is close to that noted by Vincent [23]. When considering the regularity of treatment, Wane in Dakar [24] found 64.5%. Most patients with POAG will have useful vision for their entire lives [3] [15] [25]. According to Hattenhauer et al., the incidence of blindness is estimated at 27% for unilateral blindness, and 9% for bilateral blindness, 20 years after the initial diagnosis [26]. According to Quigley and Vitale, the prevalence of bilateral blindness related to POAG is estimated at 8% in blacks and 4% in whites [27]. Treatments that lower IOP (medical, laser, and surgical) have shown that they can slow and stop the progression of the disease. In Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial (EMGT), 25% drop in IOP reduced the progression of POAG from 45% to 62% after 6 years of follow-up. CIGTS [19] showed a relatively equivalent evolution after 5 years, whether the initial treatment was medical or surgical, with a significant evolution in only 10 to 13% of the study participants.
In the Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS) [28], the group of patients with an IOP always below 18 mmHg did not develop additional loss of visual field; patients with an average IOP of 14 mmHg or less during the first 18 months were better than those with an average IOP of 17.5 mmHg or more.
In our study 7.9% of our patients had a negative light perception, 40% had a cup/disc of 0.8 to 1; 11.34% underwent a trabeculectomy with a success rate of 69.8%. The delay in diagnosis found in our study should encourage us to raise awareness among the population over 40 years of age. In our study we noticed that the diagnosis was late in a large proportion of glaucomatous subjects which attests to the state of our health system which is more curative than preventive. Public authorities and health professionals as well as patient associations have a lot to do in this area.
In our series 50% of patients knew the chronic nature of POAG, 31% respected the regularity of the schedules for taking treatment which is lower than that founded by Wane in Dakar 64.5% (24).
5. Conclusion
Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is a chronic optic neuropathy, long asymptomatic, requiring treatment for life. The World Health Organization estimated that 4.5 million people were affected by POAG blindness in 2008 worldwide; which represents more than 12% of the world blindness rate. The major risk of POAG is blindness, hence the importance of systematic screening, especially from the age of 40. The visual field remains the key examination in POAG, papillary and macular ocular coherence tomography (OCT) confirm the diagnosis and allow long-term monitoring. The goal of treatment is to decrease the intraocular pressure to reach a target pressure. When medical treatment becomes insufficient, physical and/or surgical treatment is used; trabeculectomy remains the gold standard.
The Limits of the Study
· The study period is very short so the number of patients recruited is low.
· Lost patients are a real problem for follow-up.
· Lack of knowledge of the disease and lack of awareness mean that patients consult at a very late stage.
Contributions Des Authors
Doctor Mohamed Jiddou Sidi baba: Principal author. Doctor Ahmedou Moulaye Driss: co-author/recherche bibliographic. Doctor TFEIL Yahya: co-author/recherche bibliographic. Docteur Ahmed Taleb Batty: co-auteur/analyze statistics. Professor SidiSidiCheikh: co-author head of ophthalmology department.
All authors declare that they have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.