title: Chronic glaucoma in northern Ghana--a retrospective study of 397 patients.
abstract: A retrospective study of 397 patients with chronic glaucoma in North-East Ghana seen in 1986/87 showed 71% of the patients to be male and 26% to be aged under 40 years. Fifty two per cent of eyes were already blind (V/A less than 3/60) at presentation. Blindness was associated with younger age at presentation, and greater distance of residence from the hospital. Only 19% of patients undergoing treatment were attending for follow-up at six months. Of those patients treated medically who returned for follow-up at six months only 17% had an intraocular pressure less than 22 mmHg. While of the patients treated surgically 84% of those seen at six months had an IOP below 22 mmHg.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ophthalmology, London.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Verrey
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wormald
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Akuamoa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001766:Blindness / Q000209:etiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014130:Trabeculectomy; D014792:Visual Acuity