Background: In large continental regions such as Africa, there are insufficient studies to entirely represent gender difference in intra-ocular pressure (IOP). Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if there is any significant difference in IOP of males and females newly diagnosed with glaucoma at a tertiary eye unit in Nigeria. Method: This research was done as a retrospective study carried out at the Optometry/Ophthalmology Department, Stella Obasanjo Women and Children Hospital, Benin city, Nigeria. The sample population consisted of cases (166 eyes presenting with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma [POAG]) seen between 2011 and 2013. Results: The mean IOP value was 21.11mmHg ± 0.60, with a range of 10.5mmHg to 45.9mmHg. Glaucomatous males had a significantly higher IOP (23.7mmHg ±0.99) than glaucomatous females (18.8mmHg ±0.61) (Mann-Whitney U, p < 0.001). Although a higher number of female cases (86, 51.81%) were seen compared to males (80, 48.19%), there was no significant difference in glaucoma status between males and females, p = 0.66. Conclusion: Since elevated IOP is the single best indicator of developing POAG, the men in this study were more likely than women to begin the continuing optic neuropathy.
