Combined cataract and trabeculectomy surgery for advanced glaucoma in East Africa; visual and intra-ocular pressure outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate visual and intra-ocular pressure (IOP) outcomes of combined cataract and glaucoma surgery at a high-volume centre in East Africa carried out over a 1-year period (2006).


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of patient records.


RESULTS
A total of 163 patients were identified. Mean age was 67 years (SD 11, range 21-86 years) and 113 (69%) were men. Presenting visual acuity in the operated eye was 6/60 or worse in 135/163 (93%) and was <3/60 in 76 of 163 (47%) patients. Mean presenting IOP was 28 mm Hg (SD 9, range 12-60). Pre-operative cup disc ratios were 0.8 or worse in 131 of 163 (85%) patients. Phacotrabeculectomy (PT) was carried out in 130 (80%) cases, small incision cataract surgery trabeculectomy (SICST) in 10 (6.1%) cases, and extra-capsular cataract extraction trabeculectomy (ECCET) in 23 (14.1%) cases. In all, 107 (66%) attended for follow-up (mean interval 104 days, range: 6-390 years, SD 88) and at follow-up 75 (70%) patients had improved visual acuity pre-operatively. Pre-operative cup disc ratio of 0.9 or greater predicted failure to improve VA at follow-up (OR 4.0 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.30-12.1). Fifty-nine (62% (95%CI 52-71%)) patients had follow-up IOPs of 6-15 mm Hg and 82 (85% (95% CI 78-92%)) had follow-up IOPs of 6-20 mm Hg.


CONCLUSIONS
Combined surgery produces visual benefit for most patients with similar pressure control to pure trabeculectomy and is therefore a useful option in practises where follow-up may be doubtful.
Bowman
R J C
RJ
Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation for Tanzania (CCBRT) Disability Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. richardandruthbowman@gmail.com
Hay
A
A
Wood
M L
ML
Murdoch
I E
IE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014130:Trabeculectomy / Q000379:methods; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult