Prevalence of Glaucoma in Eye Clinic Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Purpose: Glaucoma remained one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness globally, and early diagnosis was essential for preventing vision loss. Understanding its risk factors was particularly important in rural and semi-urban settings where awareness and access to eye care were limited. This study assessed the prevalence of glaucoma among patients attending the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Owo Eye Clinic. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among patients who presented to the FMC Owo Eye Clinic. Data were collected using structured clinical records, including demographic characteristics, occupation, age, and glaucoma diagnosis. Statistical analysis was conducted to determine associations between glaucoma incidence between the year 2019-2022 and the patients’ characteristics.  Results: The findings revealed a notable incidence of glaucoma in the facility, leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis. Age showed a strong association with glaucoma, indicating that older patients were more likely to present with the condition. Certain occupations—particularly farming and trading—were identified as higher-risk groups. The results also indicated that 63.3% of females were more susceptible to glaucoma than males (36.7%). Discussion and Conclusion: The study concluded that glaucoma remained a significant eye health challenge at FMC Owo, with age, occupation, and gender emerging as important risk factors. Strengthened public health awareness campaigns and early screening programs are urgently needed, especially in rural areas where awareness of glaucoma is low. Incorporating protective eye care practices and promoting routine eye examinations may help reduce the burden of the disease.