TITLE:
Outcomes of Trabeculectomy in Africa
AUTHORS:
Joella Eldie Soatiana, Marce-Amara Kpoghoumou, Fatch W. Kalembo, Huyi Huyi Zhen
KEYWORDS:
Trabeculectomy; Glaucoma; Africa
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ophthalmology,
Vol.3 No.3,
August
7,
2013
ABSTRACT: Purpose: To
determine the outcome of trabeculectomy in African countries. Design: This is a
review of literature for trabeculectomy conducted in Africa from 2000 to
December 2012. Methods: We conducted an electronic search from the
following databases: PubMed, Science Direct,
Google, and Google scholar websites for the articles of original studies on trabeculectomy conducted in
Africa. Results: A total of 109 articles, published
from 2000 to December 2012 were retrieved. Only 12 articles met our inclusion
criteria and were included in the study. The follow-up duration ranged from 6
months to 60 months. The post-trabeculectomy IOP range was 10 mmHg to 22 mmHg with rates varying from 61.8% to
90%. The visual acuity was unchanged among 19% to 30% of the participants in
the last follow-up, and the improvement rate was 36% to 81.5% while those whose condition
worsened ranged from 8.9% to 30.8%. The cup-disc ratio was ≤0.5 in 13% and ≥0.8
in 83% of the participants. The failure rate of the c/d ratio was 0.9 and it increased by 0.027 units. There was a
follow-up of only one study on the visual field. Conclusion: Trabeculectomy with or without application of antimetabolite appears to
be a good way to lowering the IOP in Africa. In addition, the combined effect of trabeculectomy and
cataract surgery produces visual benefits for the patients.