The Prevalence of Glanucoma in Korean Adults

ABSTRACT

Early detection of glaucoma by mass screening is the most practical approach for prevention of blindness. An epidemIOlogical study gives the most essential information on prevalence an distribution of the disease in relation to diverse background factors. But, before now, an epidemiological study for glaucoma has not been carried out in Korea. Our glaucoma survey was conducted in the health examination center of Yongdong Severance hospital during 1990 and 1991. The total numbers of subjects examined was 4424 persons aged 30 years or older. A mainstay of the screening consisted of applanation tonometry and fundus photography with a non-mydriatic camera, followed by automated perimetry as a recall examination. Overall prevalences of glaucoma obtained were primary open angle glaucoma 0.23% (10 patients), low tension glaucoma 2.04% (108 patients), and ocular hypertension 0.23% (10 patients). The mean lOP obtained with applanation tonometry was 14.04 +/- 2.99 mmHg for men and 14,07 +/- 2.67 mmHg for women. In additon, our data have pointed out that the lOP in different ages tends to be constant, whereas prevalences of glaucoma and low tension glaucoma increase with aging.