The utility of symptoms in identification of primary angle-closure in a high-risk population.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the frequency of symptoms associated with primary angle closure in an East Asian population with high rates of disease.


METHODS
Population-based survey.


METHODS
One thousand adults from rural and urban provinces of Mongolia were examined.


METHODS
A standard questionnaire was used to determine a history of symptoms of angle closure. All participants underwent applanation tonometry, gonioscopy, and slit-lamp examination by the same observer. The frequency of symptoms was compared between normal subjects and those in 3 high-risk or affected groups: gonioscopically confirmed occludable angles, peripheral anterior synechiae (PAS) detected on gonioscopy, and anterior chamber depth of less than 2.5 mm.


METHODS
The frequency of symptoms associated with primary angle closure.


RESULTS
Symptoms of visual disturbance and ocular pain traditionally linked with angle closure were reported frequently by both normal and potentially affected people. Intermittent blurring of vision at night was the only common symptom of angle closure that was significantly more frequent in people with narrow angles and PAS (P = 0.004, 48.4% vs. 31.0% narrow angles; P = 0.001, 54.3% vs. 30.6% PAS), but not in those with shallow anterior chambers (P = 0.670, 38.3% vs. 30.9%).


CONCLUSIONS
Direct questioning about symptoms associated with angle closure identified high rates of positive responses in both affected and unaffected groups. Although the rate of symptoms tended to be higher in affected people, none of these symptoms were specific enough to be considered useful as a diagnostic criterion.
Ong
Ee Lin
EL
Department of Epidemiology and International Eye Health, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom.
Baasanhu
Jamyanjav
J
Nolan
Winifred
W
Uranchimeg
Davatsuren
D
Lee
Pak-Sang
PS
Alsbirk
Poul Helge
PH
Johnson
Gordon J
GJ
Foster
Paul J
PJ
D000328:Adult; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000473:pathology; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D015812:Glaucoma, Angle-Closure / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006068:Gonioscopy; D006801:Humans; D008986:Mongolia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis