Determinants of glaucoma awareness in a general eye clinic.

PURPOSE

Heightened public awareness about glaucoma may increase the chance of identifying undetected cases. To ascertain determinants of glaucoma awareness, we surveyed a population visiting a general eye clinic.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

PARTICIPANTS

1197 general eye clinic patients and their companions.

METHODS

We designed and administered a questionnaire about glaucoma to general eye clinic patients and their companions. We created multivariate logistic regression models to ascertain the effect of demographic and clinical features on the likelihood of being unaware of glaucoma.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Adjusted odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals of survey attributes associated with self-perceived unfamiliarity with glaucoma.

RESULTS

Glaucoma awareness overall (72%) approached that found in the subgroup self-reporting a diagnosis of glaucoma (80%). Survey attributes associated with an increased likelihood of being unaware of glaucoma were African American race (OR = 1.69 [1.28-2.20], Hispanic ethnicity (OR = 2.13 [1.46-3.02]), and less than a college education (OR = 1.67 [1.37-2.05]). Age was also a determinant of glaucoma awareness (for ages 50-64 years, OR = 0.60 [0.44-0.80] and for ages 65-79 years, OR = 0.56 [0.41-0.75] compared with ages less than 35 years). A self-report of glaucoma was not a determinant of glaucoma awareness (OR = 0.63 [0.33-1.17]), although there was a trend toward enhanced glaucoma awareness in this subgroup. Finally, respondents with a history of employment in the health field (OR = 0.63 [0.49-0.82]) myopia (OR = 0.68 [0.56-0.82]), glaucoma in a first-degree relative (OR = 0.68 [0.53-0.87]), and respondents who reported having a dilated eye examination (OR = 0.53 [0.42-0.66]) were less likely to be unaware of glaucoma than those who did not have these attributes.

CONCLUSIONS

Although glaucoma awareness in this population was high, Hispanics, African Americans, and those with less than a college education were more likely to be unfamiliar with the disease. Interestingly, a self-report of having glaucoma was not a statistically significant determinant of glaucoma awareness.