TITLE:
Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Participants Attended Glaucoma Screening Week in Benghazi 2023
AUTHORS:
Samia A. Abdelatei Amer, Hamad K. H. A. Elzarrug, Amal A. Elfakhri
KEYWORDS:
Socio-Demographic Factors, Glaucoma, Screening
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.12 No.3,
March
31,
2025
ABSTRACT: Aim: This study is aimed at describing the socio-demographic characteristics and ocular status of participants at a screening programme during the World Glaucoma Week in Benghazi Teaching Eye Hospital-Libya in 2023. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted among individuals who voluntarily sought to be screened for glaucoma and ocular conditions during the 2023 World Glaucoma Week in Benghazi-Libya. A pre-validated self/interviewer administered questionnaire was used for socio-demographic information while clinical data was obtained from an eye examination. Data so obtained was analyzed using SPSS version 25. Results: 367 participants were screened. Male gender was greater among the sample, with 218 males (59.4%) and 149 females (40.6%). Libyan nationality was the predominant representing 92.9% of the sample. The mean age of the sample was 57.8 years. 23 persons (6.3%) were younger than 40 years compared to 343 persons (93.7) who were forty years or more, regarding the education; Public workers constituted the majority as they constituted 37.46%, University educated participants constituted 35.8%, glaucoma was found in 43.9% of the participants. Family history of glaucoma was found in only 34.9 %. The mean IOP was 16.29, 19.95 mmHg in right eyes and left eyes respectively, the median of vertical cup to disc ratio was 0.3,0.4 for right eyes and left eyes respectively. Conclusion: The current study found that most of the participants were male and were in the age group of more than 40 years, and university education was predominant. Glaucoma was found in 44% of attendance, and therefore the IOP and the vertical cup to disc ratio were within the normal range in the majority of the cases.