Primary angle-closure glaucoma among Alaskan Eskimos

Abstract

An epidemiological study of the occurrence of angle-closure glaucoma was made under the Eskimos population of the Norton Sound and Bering Straits region of Alaska. Among 1673 Alaskan Natives examined 14 cases (0.8%) of angle-closure glaucoma were found, in 0.5% of the men and 1.2% of the women; for persons above the age of 40 years these figures were 2.1% and 5.5% respectively. Angle-closure glaucoma was found in 11.8% of women above the age of 60 years. A shallow anterior chamber was seen twice as frequently in women as in men. Above the age of 30 years the chamber angle was considered to be occludable in 2% of men and 7.5% of women on gonioscopic examination. The average intra-ocular pressure of the right eyes of men was 11.7 mm Hg (s.d. 3.3) and of women 12.0 mm Hg (s.d. 3.4). Primary open-angle glaucoma was not seen in the population being studied.

Causes of Visual Impairment and Common Eye Problems in Northwest American Indians and Alaska Natives

“…In particular, angle-closure glaucoma was not found in our study but has been found to be a common cause of blindness in Alaskan Eskimos by previous studies. 7,8 Diabetic retinopathy was a common eye condition in our study but not a common cause of visual impairment, a finding that contrasts with studies in Navajos and Pima Indians. 6,31,32 We found no cases of psuedoexfoliation, a risk factor for open-angle glaucoma, a finding contrary to results among Navajo Indians, among whom 38% of persons 60 years and older had psuedoexfoliation.…”

“…Most studies of AIAN populations have been chart reviews or convenience sample studies. [6][7][8] These types of study designs do not reliably estimate the prevalence and causes of blindness because the selection criteria do not include randomization for all eligible participants of the population. Our purpose is to outline the common causes of visual impairment and the most common eye problems in a random sample of Northwest American Indians/Alaska Natives.…”

Potential of the Pentacam in Screening for Primary Angle Closure and Primary Angle Closure Suspect

“…A significantly shallower ACD was reported in PACG patients compared with normal white controls 23 ; in the contralateral eyes of cases of acute angle closure in Chinese 24 ; and in Alaskan Eskimos 25 , a group known for their high prevalence of PACG. 26,27 In a study, screening eyes with an occludable angle in approximately 2000 Eastern Asians, ACD measured by optical pachymetry and ultrasound showed a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 84% with a cut-off value of 2.22 mm. 28 In another study in a Mongolian population using optical pachymetry, the smaller the ACD value, the higher the rate of PAS with a clear ACD threshold of 2.4 mm.…”

Gender Difference in the Pathophysiology and Treatment of Glaucoma

“…39 However, a study on the Eskimo population of the Bering Straits region of Alaska found that a significantly higher percentage of women (7.5%) than men (2%) had shallow anterior chamber depths and occludable angles on gonioscopy after the age of 30. 40 In Singapore, the 1-year incidence of acute ACG (a subtype of ACG which causes an acute, sudden rise in IOP) was found to be 12.2 per 100,000 people 30 years of age and older. 41 In the same study, female gender was identified as a major risk factor for ACG, with a relative risk of 2.4.…”