title: Presentation of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) at Lions Sight First Eye Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi.
abstract: Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common type of glaucoma in Africa. We carried out a study to determine the clinical presentation pattern of patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) at a tertiary hospital in Malawi.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional study.
  
  
  
  Lions Sight First Eye Hospital-a major referral and teaching state eye hospital in Blantyre, Malawi.
  
  
  
  Study participants were newly diagnosed POAG patients at specialist eye clinic during study period.
  
  
  
  A total of 60 POAG patients were recruited into the study. The mean age was 58.7 years (SD= 16.6, range 18 - 86). There were more male (44, 73.3%) than female (16, 27.7%) patients. The majority of patients (73%) presented one year after onset of visual symptoms. Twenty-six patients (43%) had unilateral blindness (visual acuity < 3/60; WHO classification), while nine patients (15%) presented with bilateral blindness. A vertical cup-to-disc ratio (CDR) of 0.8 or worse was seen in 92 eyes (79%). The mean intraocular pressure (IOP) reading was 35.5 mmHg (SD 13.30). Of the thirty-three eyes that successfully underwent visual field analysis, very advanced defects were recorded in 12 eyes (36%).
  
  
  
  This study demonstrates delayed presentation and male predominance among POAG patients at a tertiary eye hospital in Malawi. Glaucoma intervention programmes should aim at identifying patients with treatable glaucoma with particular attention to women.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi; Lions Sight First Eye Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Kayange
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi; Lions Sight First Eye Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Nkume
authors.affiliation: Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, Wales.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feyi-Waboso
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi; Lions Sight First Eye Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kalua
authors.affiliation: Lions Sight First Eye Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Msukwa
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi; Lions Sight First Eye Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi; Tübingen University Eye Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwering Schulze
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008295:Malawi / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors