Causes of secondary glaucoma in Paraguay

Glaucoma is the third-most-frequent cause of blindness in the world, with a total of 5.2 million blind people as a result of this disease; 80 % live i n developing countries. In Paraguay, after cataract it is the second-most-f requent-cause. Early detection of the risk factors and groups can help to a void progress of this disease. Trauma, cataract and infectious uveitis repr esent special risks for developing secondary glaucoma, which is a more freq uent cause of blindness in third-world countries than in industrialized nat ions. Until now there has been little data regarding the causes, disease co urse, and options for therapy. Therefore, secondary glaucoma was examined i n Paraguay to obtain information on the situation in Latin America. The aim of the study was to explore the causes of secondary glaucoma for programs concerning prevention and therapy. From November 1996 to February 1997 pati ents with secondary glaucoma were examined at the University Hospital of As uncion, Paraguay. After the clinical examination the secondary glaucomas we re classified. Patients with primary glaucoma were included in the same per iod of time as well in order to get the rate of secondary glaucoma. Altoget her 293 patients were examined: 61 with secondary and 232 with primary glau coma. The causes of secondary glaucoma in 73 eyes were: 20 (27 %) with pseu doexfoliation glaucoma, 19 (26 %) with post-traumatic glaucoma, 16 (22 %) w ith neovascular glaucoma, 4 (5 %) with lens-related glaucoma, 3 (4 %) with glaucoma associated with ocular surgery, 2 (3 %) with pigmentary and 2 (3 % ) with corticoid-induced glaucoma. A ratio of 4:1 primary glaucomas to seco ndary glaucomas was found. The development of special measures for preventi on and early therapy is only possible if the causes of this severe disease are explored. The results of this study represent basic information and cou ld help to introduce of prevention programs.