[Knowledge and perceptions of glaucoma among adults living in an urban area]

OBJECTIVE: To assess knowledge and opinions on glaucoma among subjects screened in a campaign for ocular disease detection in western Mexico. METHODS: Cross-sectional, comparative and descriptive study. During a two-week period, adults of at least 40 years of age underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination. A questionnaire containing general and demographic data, as well as a set of questions related to both general and ocular health status were administered to all participants; specific questions assessing the level of knowledge and awareness on glaucoma were also included. A comprehensive battery of functional and structural tests was administered. Comparisons among subgroups according to different demographic characteristics were carried out. RESULTS: 492 subjects were screened, 389 (79.1%) completed all tests; 166 participants (42.6%) reported having completed grade school education; 174 subjects (44.7%) identified glaucoma, but 52 (29.9%) were unable to describe it correctly. Four (14.3%) out of 28 glaucomatous subjects were not able to correctly describe glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: The level of knowledge and awareness of glaucoma is low among adults assessed in an urban region in western Mexico. Low levels of schooling among participants seem to have an impact on glaucoma knowledge and awareness