Primary angle closure glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa

The prevalence of primary open angle glaucoma in patients with retinitis pigmentosa ranges from 2-12%. To the best of our knowledge the prevalence of primary angle closure glaucoma in retinitis pigmentosa patients has not been reported. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of primary angle closure glaucoma in patients with retinitis pigmentosa and the relationship between the two. We reviewed 538 retinitis pigmentosa patients' charts seen between 1974-1987, in the Ocular Genetic Clinic in the Hospital of Sick Children, Toronto, Canada. The prevalence of primary angle closure glaucoma in our retinitis pigmentosa patients over 40 was 1.03%. We also reviewed three patients with primary angle closure glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa. One patient had typical bilateral retinitis pigmentosa, one patient had bilateral sector retinitis pigmentosa, and one patient had unilateral retinitis pigmentosa and primary angle closure glaucoma in the same eye. Our data indicate that there is a strong association between retinitis pigmentosa and primary angle closure glaucoma.