A pilot project of glaucoma in Barbados.
The prevalence of open-angle glaucoma is believed to be very high among West Indian blacks. To begin investigating the prevalence and risk factors for glaucoma and other eye diseases in Barbados, WI, a pilot study was conducted. The pilot project identified a stratified, random national sample of 300 persons over 35 years of age who were invited to participate in an ophthalmic examination and an interview. Of those contacted 89% were eligible and 95% of these agreed to participate. The overall glaucoma prevalence in the participants was 6%; it was 13% among black and mixed persons over 54 years. Age related cataract, hypertension, and diabetes were frequent findings. Although the sample size of the pilot project is small, the results suggest a high prevalence of glaucoma in Barbados, a finding that merits further study.
Leske
M C
MC
Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, State University of New York, Stony Brook 11794.
Connell
A M
AM
Kehoe
R
R
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D001460:Barbados; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012306:Risk; D044465:White People