[Detection of primary open-angle glaucoma at the National University Hospital Cotonou, Benin].
OBJECTIVE
Describe the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of POAG and evaluate hospital personnel's knowledge of the disease at the National University Hospital in Cotonou, Benin.


METHODS
A transversal study was conducted over a period of 7 months on 689 employees over 20 years of age, divided into three professional categories A, B, and C.


RESULTS
The rate of participation was 67 %. POAG was present in 5.5 % of the employees (n=38). The disease was known only by 21.0 % of employees (n=8). The average age of patients was 45.6+/-3.5 years, with a sex ratio of 3.2. Category C employees were the most affected. Vision was higher than 0.7 in 59,5 % at right eye and 57,9 % at left eye; the most frequent lesions of the visual field were nasal projection and Bjërrum scotoma. Intraocular pressure was higher than 21 mmHg in 63,2 % at right and 57,9 % at left eye with an average IOP of 21.5 mmHg on the left and 18.3 mmHg in the right eye. The average cup/disc was 0,5.


CONCLUSIONS
POAG was unknown to most employees of the Cotonou National University Hospital; it affected young people and was more frequent in the low-income professional categories. Its prevention requires awareness and systematic monitoring of young people.
Yehouessi
L
L
Clinique Ophtalmologique, Centre National Hospitalier et Universitaire Hubert Koutoukou Maga, Cotonou, Bénin. drodoulis@yahoo.fr
Doutetien
C
C
Sounouvou
I
I
Tchabi
S
S
Avognon
C
C
Bassabi
S K
SK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001541:Benin; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult