Abstract:
African eye patients
with primary open angle glaucoma; at Muhimbili Medical Centre between
November, 1992 and October, 1993. The main objective was to study the
effectiveness of trabeculectomy as the first option in the management of
primary open angle glaucoma in African patients.
The study revealed the prevalence of primary open angle glaucoma at
the time of study in Muhimbili Medical Centre to be 16%.
Trabeculectomy was done in 52% of patients studied with a success
rate of 84% with minimal postopeative complications. It was found out in
this study that trabeculectomy significantly lowered the intraocular
pressure (P «0.001) and hence reducing the progression of visual field and
visual acuity loss.
In conclusion, results obtained and analysed in this study confirm that
there is a high prevalence of primary open angle glaucoma
among African patients attending the Muhimbili Medical
Centre Eye Clinic,
primary open angle glaucoma is one of the common cause of
blindness in Tanzania African patients,
most patients are not aware of the onset of the disease until late
when other eye imparements are manifested,
trabeculectomy proved to be an effective treatment in lowering
intraocular pressure and hence preventing further damage to
the eye and consequently preserving visual field and vision; so
proving the objective of the study.
