Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma in East Asia: Educational Attainment as a Protective Factor

Purpose: To examine the relationship between education, other risk factors and incident primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG).Method: Glaucoma was excluded in a group of 4597 Mongolian volunteers in 1999. After 6 years, 1892 traced participants had full ophthalmic examination, dilated disc photographs and agreed to complete a questionnaire on socio-economic status. PACG was diagnosed using both structural and functional evidence from objective grading of paired disc photographs, follow up visual fields and clinical examination. Ophthalmic examination included van Herick grading, Goldmann intraocular pressure (IOP), gonioscopy, lens opacity grading and dilated disc examination. Central anterior chamber depth, lens thickness and axial length were recorded using ultrasound A scan mounted on a slitlamp. Education level was assessed using national census categories.Results: PACG was diagnosed in 29 participants (6 year incidence = 1.53%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03–2.19%). In univariate analysis, risk ...