A role of oblique flashlight test in screening for primary angle closure glaucoma

Objective: To study the effect of oblique flashlight test in screening for primary angle closure glaucoma.

Methods: Two hundred adults over 50 years old were sampled randomly at Doumen county of Guangdong province in 1995. 390 eyes were measured by oblique flashlight test according to grading standard photos of oblique flashlight test. Other ocular examinations consisted of intraocular-pressure measurement with Schiotz tonometer, gonioscopy, and optic disc appearance.

Results: The result showed 25.2% of the examined eyes had the oblique flashlight grade < or = 2, and tended to be increasing with age (x2 = 8.597, P < 0.05) and in females (x2 = 14.89, P < 0.01). Based on temporal anterior chamber angle < or = 2 (Shaffer's grade), the obligue flashlight grade < or = 2 found that occludable angle sensitivity was 91.7%, specificity was 91.5%, and 8.16% of the eyes had primary closure angle glaucoma. No patient was found in oblique flashlight grades > or = 3.

Conclusions: This study shows that oblique flashlight test conforms to screening test needs, and plays an important role in screening for primary closure angle glaucoma. We suggest that oblique flashlight grades < or = 2 as cutoff point of screening for occludable angle.