title: [Asymmetrical forms of primary open angle glaucoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study is to describe asymmetrical forms of primary open angle glaucomas in black african originated patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data of 514 glaucomatous patients (1022 eyes) followed between 1993 and 1997, and attending our hospital eye department are retrospectively analysed. All the participants were diagnosed as primary open angle glaucomas; asymetry was defined as a difference of 0.2 at least between the vertical cup disc ratio of the same patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of all 514 glaucoma patients was 34.52 +/- 15.55 years; 254 patients (49.40%) had no differences between cup disc values while 260 remaining others had asymmetric glaucomas (50.58%). Of them, 189 (72.69%) had a difference of 0.2 between both eyes; 49 (18.8%) had 0.3 difference; 7 (2.69%) had 0.4 difference; 4 (1.53%) had 0.5 difference, and 11 (4.23%) a difference of 0.6. Besides, 114 eyes (11.15%) had a vertical ratio of 0.9 at the first diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Carefully recognition of asymmetric cup disc ratios is of great diagnostic value in the the early stages of primary open angle glaucoma because 50% of all patients presented with this clinical form in our experience. This strategy would improve early diagnosis of glaucoma in our areas.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Ophtalmologie, CHU Tokoin, Lomé, Togo.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Balo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mihluedo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fany
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bechetoille
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009898:Optic Disk; D012189:Retrospective Studies