RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Heredity, one of the risk factors associated with primitive glaucoma, has not yet been studied in Togolese glaucoma patients. In this study, we report the characteristics and the modes of transmission of the family forms of glaucoma in 13 Togolese families. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From glaucomatous propositus and the presence of blindness unrelated to cataract in the ascendants, we carried out a family survey, drew up 13 family trees covering 2-4 generations in 190 participants. Screening based on tonometry and ophthalmoscopy made it possible, after perimetry, to confirm cases of glaucoma. RESULTS: Glaucomatous blindness was found in 4.2% of the subjects while 2.1% presented severe vision problems, for a total of 6.3% partially sighted persons due to glaucoma in the group of 190 participants. Glaucoma was confirmed in 57 participants (30%); 24.2% had a bilateral deficit compared to 5.8% with a unilateral perimetric deficit. Eight of the family trees covered four generations, four covered three generations, and two generations were covered in two family trees. Analysis of the trees led to the suspicion of a dominant autosomal transmission in six families, a recessive form in five families, and sporadic forms in two families. CONCLUSION: The presence of the hereditary family forms of glaucoma in 11 studied families out of 13 indicate a strong suspicion for the presence of a glaucoma gene; this can only be elucidated with a further study that would include genetic sequencing.