1. Epidemiology of Glaucoma

Question 1

T/F: “Epidemiology” is a branch of medical science that deals with the incidence, distribution, and control of disease in a population.

Answer 1

True!!!

Question 2

The number of instances of a given disease or other condition in a given population at a designated time. This is the definition for:

a) prevalence
b) incidence

Answer 2

a) prevalence

Question 3

T/F: In other words, prevalence is how many are there, and incidence is how many of these are new cases.

Answer 3

True!!

Question 4

T/F: Incidence is simply a smaller portion of prevalence

Answer 4

True!

Question 5

T/F: Intraocular pressure is the only and main contributing factor in the ocular tissue damage caused by glaucoma.

Answer 5

False! IOP is a main factor, but it is NOT the only factor that causes glaucoma. IOP is just a component of the disease.

Question 6

Which cases tend to be easier to work with, and which cases tend to be the more difficult ones to treat (according to Dr. Davey)?

Answer 6

moderate to advanced glaucoma cases are easier.

early (beginning stage) glaucoma cases are more difficult, because you need to figure out what type of glaucoma you’re dealing with.

Question 7

what are the four types of Open Angle glaucomas?

Answer 7

1. POAG
2. Normal tension glaucoma
3. Ocular hypertension
4. Glaucoma suspects

Question 8

what are the 2 subdivisions for Glaucoma Suspects?

Answer 8

1. Optic disc

2. Visual Fields

Question 9

what does primary mean? and what does secondary mean?

Answer 9

primary means that you don’t know the cause of it. secondary means that you know the reason.

Question 10

in real life, and when you’re in clinic, will you be dealing more with open angle or closed angle glaucoma?

Answer 10

open angle is more common. (so mainly the left side of the chart)

Question 11

what is the IOP requirement to be considered POAG?

Answer 11

patient must have IOP greater than 21 mmHg

Question 12

what is the IOP requirement to be considered Normal Tension Glaucoma?

Answer 12

patient’s IOP is, for the most part, statistically normal (less than 21 mmHg)

Question 13

what are the requirements to be considered Ocular Hypertension Glaucoma?

Answer 13

patient’s IOP is greater than 21 mmHg, but you do NOT see any nerve or visual field damage.

Question 14

if you look at the optic nerve and immediately you notice that it does not look normal, this would be classified as what type of open angle glaucoma?

Answer 14

glaucoma suspect - optic disc

Question 15

T/F: About 30% of the total population has diagnosed glaucoma

Answer 15

False! 3% only

Question 16

How much of the total population are glaucoma suspects?

Answer 16

3 fold of 3% = about 10% !!!

Question 17

what is the prevalence of POAG in caucasians?

a) 2%
b) 5%
c) 10%
d) 20%

Answer 17

POAG in caucasians = 2%

Know this number!!!!**

Question 18

what is a very important factor when determining the % prevalences of glaucoma in the different studies?

Answer 18

age!!!

Question 19

Prevalence in different studies varies because:

a) different populations
b) different methods used to obtain a sample
c) different definition of glaucoma
d) all of the above

Answer 19

d) all of the above

Question 20

is the prevalence of POAG in african american and african caribbean higher or lower than that of caucasians?

Answer 20

HIGHER!!! prevalence for africans is much higher than 2% .. it is 4x that!!

Question 21

T/F: Prevalence of POAG in caucasians over 40 years of age is 2%, and in african american and african caribbeans, it is four times that

Answer 21

True!!

** Know this statement

Question 22

What’s the age you need to start worrying about glaucoma in caucasians?

a) 25+
b) 35+
c) 40+
d) 50+

Answer 22

40+ for caucasians

Question 23

what’s the age you need to start worrying about glaucoma in african americans?

a) 25+
b) 35+
c) 40+
d) 50+

Answer 23

35+ for african americans! (this is young)

Question 24

and what about latinos? what is the age you need to worry about the risk of glaucoma?

Answer 24

40+, same as for caucasians
**Note, latinos have the same age for risk of glaucoma as caucasians, but their progression is different … progression in latinos tends to be much worse as age increases.

Question 25

what’s the relationship between prevalence of glaucoma and age?

Answer 25

directly proportional. As age increases, prevalence increases as well!

Question 26

Does gender play a role in risk factor for POAG?

Answer 26

No, not really. But for angle closure glaucoma, gender does play a role.

Question 27

what’s the average prevalence of OHT (ocular hypertension glaucoma) in caucasians?

a) 2%
b) 3%
c) 5%
d) 10%

Answer 27

about 3%
recall that OHT glaucoma is an open angle glaucoma, and it is when the patient has elevated IOP but no visible nerve or field damage