Pediatric Glaucoma: Epidemiological, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Aspects in Surgically Treated Cases

Introduction: Pediatric glaucoma is ocular hypertension present at birth or developing subsequently. Its clinical presentation is highly variable. Depending on age and etiology, it is classified into primary glaucoma and secondary glaucoma. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical, therapeutic and evolutionary characteristics of pediatric glaucoma in Côte d’Ivoire. Materials and Methods: The study included patients aged between 0 and 15 years who had been diagnosed with childhood glaucoma. This was a retrospective, descriptive study based on the analysis of patient records from the Ophthalmological Medical Center of Abidjan between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2022-a period of five years. Epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and outcome-related parameters were evaluated. Results: A total of 20 medical records of children diagnosed with glaucoma were analyzed. Among our patients, 55% were male, resulting in a sex ratio of 1.22. The mean age was 11.78 years. Decreased visual acuity was the most common presenting symptom, observed in 80% of cases. Half of the patients had visual acuity greater than 6/10 in both eyes. Pre-treatment Intraocular Pressure (IOP) exceeded 21 mm/Hg in 75% of patients in the right eye and in 55% in the left eye. Juvenile glaucoma was the predominant form, accounting for 90% of cases. All patients underwent trabeculectomy. Mean intraocular pressure decreased from 23.62 mm/Hg preoperatively to 17.35 mm/Hg postoperatively. Conclusion: Pediatric glaucoma poses a serious threat to visual prognosis. Hence, early diagnosis and prompt, effective management are crucial to preserving vision and improving long-term outcomes for affected children.