TITLE:
Perception and Practice of Undergoing Glaucoma Screening among Ophthalmologists
AUTHORS:
Chimdia E. Ogbonnaya, Lawrence U. Ogbonnaya, Obiekwe Okoye, Nkiru Akariwe
KEYWORDS:
Glaucoma Screening, Perception, Practice, Ophthalmologists, Nigeria
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ophthalmology,
Vol.6 No.2,
May
4,
2016
ABSTRACT: Background: Globally, glaucoma remains
the leading cause of irreversible blindness. Early detection and treatment is
mainstay of prevention of blindness from glaucoma. Purpose: This study was done to assess the perception and glaucoma
screening practice of ophthalmologist in Nigeria. Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. A pretested
structured questionnaire was administered to all the ophthalmologists who
attended the general plenary session of the 2013 annual conference of the
Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria (OSN). Result:
Of the 115 respondents, 63 (54.8%) were females; mean age was 39.7 ± 9.3 years.
Majority 69 (60.0%) were less than 40 years old. Presence of systemic risk factors to glaucoma was reported by 19 (16.5%), out of which 9 (47.4%) were hypertension, 2 (10.5%) were Diabetes
Mellitus, 2 (10.5%) were other cardiovascular diseases, and 6 were unspecified
others. Among the respondents, 28 (24.3%) had positive family history; 29
(25.2%) had Myopia; and 3 (2.6%) were known glaucoma patients already on
treatment. Majority 91 (79.1%) had positive attitude towards glaucoma
screening. Although 98 (85.2%) have ever had a full eye examination, only 56
(48.7%) were routine. There was no statistically significant relationship
between sex, age group, religion, positive family history, professional status,
attitude and glaucoma screening. Conclusion:
The attitude of Nigerian Ophthalmologists to glaucoma screening was high but
actual screening practice was below expectation in view of their presumed high
knowledge of the risk of blindness from glaucoma. In-house campaign aimed at
promoting self-glaucoma screening among this high-cadre eye care providers is
warranted.