title: The utility of symptoms in identification of primary angle-closure in a high-risk population.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Epidemiology and International Eye Health, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Ee Lin
authors: EL
authors: Ong
authors: Jamyanjav
authors: J
authors: Baasanhu
authors: Winifred
authors: W
authors: Nolan
authors: Davatsuren
authors: D
authors: Uranchimeg
authors: Pak-Sang
authors: PS
authors: Lee
authors: Poul Helge
authors: PH
authors: Alsbirk
authors: Gordon J
authors: GJ
authors: Johnson
authors: Paul J
authors: PJ
authors: Foster
mesh_terms: 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