The Prevalence and Types of Glaucoma in Malay People: The Singapore Malay Eye Study

• Published in: Investigative ophthalmology & visual science 2008-09, Vol.49 (9), p.3846-3851
• Main Authors: Shen, Sunny Y, Wong, Tien Y, Foster, Paul J, Loo, Jing-Liang, Rosman, Mohamad, Loon, Seng-Chee, Wong, Wan Ling, Saw, Seang-Mei, Aung, Tin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Biological and medical sciences; Eye and associated structures. Visual pathways and centers. Vision; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glaucoma - classification; Glaucoma - epidemiology; Glaucoma and intraocular pressure; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure - epidemiology; Glaucoma, Open-Angle - epidemiology; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Ophthalmology; Prevalence; Sex Ratio; Singapore - epidemiology; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
• ISSN: 0146-0404; 1552-5783; 1552-5783
• DOI: 10.1167/iovs.08-1759

To assess the prevalence and types of glaucoma in an Asian Malay population. The Singapore Malay Eye Study is a population-based, cross-sectional survey that examined 3280 (78.7% response) persons aged 40 to 80 years. Participants underwent a standardized clinical examination including slit-lamp biomicroscopy, Goldmann applanation tonometry, and dilated optic disc assessment. Participants who were suspected to have glaucoma also underwent visual field examination (24-2 SITA standard, Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer II), gonioscopy, and repeat applanation tonometry. Glaucoma was defined according to International Society for Geographical and Epidemiologic Ophthalmology criteria. Of the 3280 participants, 150 (4.6%) had diagnosed glaucoma, giving an age- and sex-standardized prevalence of 3.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.3%-3.5%). The age- and sex-standardized prevalence of primary open-angle glaucoma was 2.5% (95% CI, 2.4%-2.6%), primary angle-closure glaucoma 0.12% (95% CI, 0.10%-0.14%), and secondary glaucoma 0.61% (95% CI, 0.59%-0.63%). Of the 150 glaucoma cases, only 12 (8%) had a previous known history of glaucoma. Twenty-seven (18%) eyes had low vision (based on best corrected visual acuity logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution [logMAR] >0.30 to /=1.00). The prevalence of glaucoma among Malay persons 40 years of age and older in Singapore is 3.4%, comparable to ethnic Chinese people in Singapore and other racial/ethnic groups in Asia. As in Chinese, Caucasians, and African people, primary open-angle glaucoma was the main form of glaucoma in this population. More than 90% of glaucoma cases were previously undetected.