Aim: To describe the characteristics of cup/disc ratio in a young population belonging to a homogenous ethnic group in northern Togo.
Patients and methods: The study population comprising 1010 persons (550 men and 460 women aged 20-40 years) was selected in 12 villages in the Doufelgou area. Eye assessment was conducted in the local health center facilities using a visual acuity chart, an ophthalmoscope, and light magnification for exploration of the anterior segment.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 30.4 years. The mean cup/disc ratio was 0.36 (range, 0.3-0.9). The most frequently found cup/disc ratio was 0.3, in both eyes, and was predominant in the 20- to 24-year age group: 56.6% of the right eyes and 58.7% of the left eyes. Cup/disc ratios over 0.5 were found in 14.4% of the right eyes and 12.4% of the left eyes; a cut-off point over 0.7 gave an abnormal cup/disc ratio prevalence of 3.2% in the right eye and 3.5% in the left eye. In 75% of the cases, the cupping appeared round and was elliptic in 25% of the patients. The cupping position was central in 63%, temporal in 18.3%, and nasal in 18.7% of the cases. In 7.8%, cupping was asymmetric.
Conclusion: More than 3% of the young population of northern Togo has a 0.7 or higher cup/disc ratio, which shows a high prevalence of primary open-angle glaucoma if cup/disc ratio is considered a criterion for definition.