title: Glaucoma drainage implant surgery--an evidence-based update with relevance to sub-Saharan Africa.
abstract: Glaucoma represents a leading cause of preventable vision loss in Sub-Saharan Africa. Recent studies evaluating outcomes of glaucoma drainage implant (GDI) surgery suggest an important role for this approach in the African patient population. The Tube Versus Trabeculectomy study demonstrated a higher success rate with non-valved GDI surgery compared to trabeculectomy with mitomycin C after five years. The Ahmed Baerveldt Comparison study showed no difference in surgical failure rates between the Ahmed Glaucoma Valve and the Baerveldt Glaucoma Implant (BGI) but better intraocular pressure outcomes with the BGI at one year. The Ahmed Versus Baerveldt study demonstrated a lower failure rate for the BGI, but also a requirement for more post-operative interventions. Further study of GDI surgery in the Sub-Saharan Africa is necessary to determine its optimal place in the treatment paradigm for glaucoma patients in the region.
authors.affiliation: Penn State Hershey Eye Center, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Ardalan E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Aminlari
authors.forename: Ingrid U
authors.initials: IU
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Ahmad A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Aref
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery*; D020327:Glaucoma Drainage Implants; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D016685:Mitomycin; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D014130:Trabeculectomy; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016685:Mitomycin
keywords: Ahmed Glaucoma Valve; Baerveldt Glaucoma Implant; Glaucoma; Glaucoma Drainage Device; Glaucoma Drainage Implant