Pigmentary glaucoma in the black population.

The pigment dispersion syndrome is associated with a secondary open-angle glaucoma most commonly found in young, myopic, white males. We studied 20 cases (38 eyes) of pigment dispersion syndrome in black individuals as defined by heavy deposition on the corneal endothelium and trabecular meshwork with increased intraocular pressure but no other ocular abnormalities. The 20 patients were a homogeneous group that was typified by older age distribution (average, 73 years), a preponderance of hyperopia (median refraction, +2.15 diopters spherical equivalent), female gender (19 women, one man), no iris transillumination defects (zero of 38 eyes), and flatter iris insertion into the ciliary body. We believe that this homogeneous group of black individuals with pigment dispersion and atypical features represents a pigment dispersion syndrome associated with older age, hyperopia, and female sex preponderance, in the black race.