Abstract

Taiwo .O. AKINDIPE, Olatunji .F. AINA, Adeola .O. ONAKOYA

Background: Glaucoma is a common cause of blindness. Particularly in West Africa where most affected patients present late in the clinic, glaucoma is often associated with psychological complications with possible effect on quality of life. Methods: The study was carried out in the glaucoma clinic of Lagos University Teaching Hospital on consenting attendees aged ≥18 years. Equal number of age and sex-matched controls with the diagnosis of cataract were also recruited into the study from the general ophthalmology clinic. The subjects and controls were assessed with Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and World Health Organization Quality of Life-bref (WHOQoL-bref). Results: A total of one hundred subjects with glaucoma and equal number of controls were studied. The median age of the subjects was 59.0 years with near equal sex distribution, that is 51 (51%) males and 49 (49%) females. Nearly half, 49 (49%) had severe glaucoma. Forty seven (47%) had visual impairment; with 21 (21%) having blindness in one eye and 3 (3%) with blindness in both eyes. On assessment with SDS, 22 (22%) subjects and 11 (11%) controls scored ≥40, indicating positive screen for depression. The difference was statistically significant (X2 =4.391, df=1, p=0.036). From assessment with WHOQoL-bref, the overall quality of life was poor in 27 (27%) of subjects compared with 8 (8%) controls. Fifty six (56%) of subjects and eighty (80%) of controls had fair overall quality of life; and the difference was statistically significant (X2 =15.412, df=2, p=0.0001). Conclusion: The study showed risk of depression with overall poor quality of life in relatively greater number of subjects compared to controls. It is also noted that nearly half of the subjects presented late with severe glaucoma in the study centre. It is recommended for routine screening for early detection of glaucoma among at risk subjects; and health education for affected patients to present early for necessary management.