title: The effect of medical therapy on IOP control in Ghana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate IOP control following twelve months of continuous medical therapy in Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective case series included 163 glaucoma patients diagnosed at a referral eye center between 1996 and 2006. Information collected included age, gender, IOP at presentation, six months and one year post treatment and types of anti-glaucoma medications prescribed. Optimal IOP control was defined according to results from the Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS), which demonstrated arrest of visual field progression in patients with IOP < 18 mmHg at all visitations: Level 1 (post-treatment IOP ≤ 21 mmHg); Level 2 (≤ 18 mmHg) and level 3 (≤ 16 mmHg). The principal outcome measure was the achievement of IOP <18 mmHg at six months and twelve month visitations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred sixty three patients were analyzed. These included 68 males (41.7%) and 95 females (58.3%). The mean age was 57±16 (median 59 years; range 7 - 95 years). There was no significant difference in age (p=0.35) or mean IOP (p=0.08) between genders. The mean pre-treated IOP of 31.9±8.9 mmHg significantly decreased to 21.3±6.6 mmHg at 6 months (p=0.001), with 57.4% of eyes at Level 1 IOP control, 25.3% at Level 2 and 15.4% at Level 3 and decreased further at 12 months to 20.7±6.9 mmHg (p=0.48) with 69.7% of eyes at Level 1, 34.4% at Level 2, and 12.4% at Level 3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current medical regimen is insufficient to reduce IOP to target levels as defined in the Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study.
authors.affiliation: Bawku Hospital - Eye Department, P.O. Box 45, Bawku, Upper East Region, Bawku, Upper East Region P.O. Box 45,Ghana And Emmanuel Eye Centre - Ophthalmology, P.O. Box Gp8769, Accra, Greater Accra Region Gp8769, Ghana.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Gyasi
authors.affiliation: University Of Illinois At Chicago - Ophthalmology And Visual Sciences, 1855 W Taylor St , Chicago, Illinois 60612, United States.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Andrew
authors.affiliation: Navrongo Health Research Centre - Ophthalmology, Navrongo, Ghana.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adjuik
authors.affiliation: Emmanuel Eye Centre - Ophthalmology, Accra-Ghana, 4emmanuel Eye Centre, Accra-Ghana.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kesse
authors.affiliation: Emmanuel Eye Centre - Ophthalmology, Accra-Ghana, 4emmanuel Eye Centre, Accra-Ghana.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kodjo
authors.affiliation: Duke University Eye Center - Ophthalmology, Durham, North Carolina, United States.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Herndon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010277:Parasympathomimetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors; D010277:Parasympathomimetics; D011453:Prostaglandins
keywords: Ghana; Glaucoma; IOP; POAG; intraocular pressure