title: The efficacy of viscocanalostomy for uncontrollable primary open-angle glaucoma in a developing country.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety and efficacy of viscocanalostomy in the management of medically uncontrollable primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in a developing country.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a prospective, non-randomized case series of 14 consecutive eyes with medically uncontrollable POAG, all subjected to viscocanalostomy. The main outcome measure was success rate based on the intraocular pressure (IOP) level achieved post-operatively. The procedure was considered a complete success if IOP was less than 21 mmHg without any anti-glaucoma medication. Qualified success was defined as IOP of less than 21 mmHg with anti-glaucoma medication. All patients had a regular follow-up of at least 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IOP was reduced from a mean baseline value of 27.9 ± 7.3 mmHg (range: 21-40 mmHg) to a mean final value of 16.0 ± 2.7 mmHg (range: 13-22 mmHg), which was statistically highly significant (P < 0.005). The mean number of pre-operative anti-glaucoma medications was 3.0 ± 0.4 (range: 2-4), which was reduced significantly (P < 0.0001) to 0.3 ± 0.6 (range: 0-2) at the last follow-up visit. One year post-operatively, complete success was achieved in 71% and qualified success was observed in 21.4% of patients, summing up to an overall success rate of 92.4%. There were no major complications in any of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Viscocanalostomy could be performed effectively and safely for control of POAG in developing countries.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Islamic Azad University of Medicine, Mashhad Branch, Mashhad, Iran.
authors: Khodadad
authors: K
authors: Moradian
authors: Ramin
authors: R
authors: Daneshvar
authors: Ladan
authors: L
authors: Saffarian
authors: Habibollah
authors: H
authors: Esmaeeli
authors: Hanieh
authors: H
authors: Hosseinnezhad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D018463:Filtering Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012590:Sclera / Q000601:surgery*; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity