Primary Congenital Glaucoma in Kano, Northern Nigeria

Abstract

Primary congenital glaucoma is one of the causes of childhood blindness and it appears to be common in our environment. This study evaluated the pattern of
presentation and management of primary congenital glaucoma in children.
This was a prospective questionnaire-based study of primary congenital glaucoma
over a three year period. The information analyzed included patients\' bio-data, vision, laterality of disease, presenting symptoms, family history, and history of traditionalmedicine
application to the eye. Others included horizontal corneal diameter, intra ocular pressure and outcome of management. There were 26 patients, 20 weremales and 6 were
females (M:F=3.3:1). Their ages ranged between 3 months and 5 years. Over a half of the patients presented during the first year of life. Primary congenital glaucomawas bilateral in
19 patients (73%). The commonest presenting symptoms were large eyes (85%), cloudy eyes (77%), photophobia (46%) and lacrimation (31%). In 44 eyes (98%) the intra
ocular pressure was 20-49mmHg before surgery and below 20mmHg after surgery.Ttrabeculectomy resolved almost all the presenting symptoms, reduced intra-ocular pressure (IOP) and improved vision in all the patients. No sight threatening complicationswere recorded. Primary congenital glaucoma is common in our environment. Trabeculectomy remains a valuable treatment modality because it abolished most of the
symptoms and IOP.

Keywords: Congenital Glaucoma, Childhood Blindness, Trabeculectomy.

African Journal of Paediatric Surgery Vol. 4 (2) 2007: pp. 75-78