The Armenian Eye Care Project: surgical outcomes of complicated paediatric glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
To review surgical results of the Armenian Eye Care Project's (AECP) efforts in paediatric glaucoma and to identify additional morbidity associated with its initial itinerant nature.


METHODS
A non-randomised, retrospective historical cohort study of complicated paediatric glaucoma surgeries was performed by the AECP at the Republican Eye Hospital. 38 eyes of 34 paediatric patients underwent mitomycin C trabeculectomies (MMCT) (n = 20) or Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) placements (n = 18) for complicated paediatric glaucomas. The median age was 12.5 years with a range of 6-17 years. Three clinical groups were represented: congenital glaucoma, Frank Kamenetsky syndrome (a glaucoma associated with uveitis), and Rieger's syndrome.


RESULTS
Preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressures were similar for the two groups (MMCT v AGV = 30 v 32 mm Hg and 13.5 v 14.8 mm Hg, respectively; p>0.05, t test). The AGV group was twice as likely to use medications postoperatively (44% v 23%; p<0.05, t test). The MMCT group was more likely to have a three line drop in visual acuity than the AGV group (28% v 12%; p<0.05, t test). The decreased visual acuity found postoperatively was most commonly secondary to cataract formation.


CONCLUSIONS
Total success rates were similar in the two surgical treatment groups. These compared favourably with success rates reported for non-itinerant surgery. Postoperative complications worsened by the itinerant nature of the project were few and represented 5% of the total surgical interventions. Ultimately, the installation of fellowship trained specialists is the most effective approach to minimising this problem and is recommended by the AECP as a strategy for developing and recovering countries.
Hill
R
R
Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-4375, USA. tahill@uci.edu
Ohanesian
R
R
Voskanyan
L
L
Malayan
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001136:Armenia; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014130:Trabeculectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016685:Mitomycin