Outcome of Glaucoma Drainage Device Surgeries in Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Glaucoma is the leading cause of functional low vision and irreversible blindness in Nigeria and constitutes a significant public health burden. Glaucoma Drainage Devices(GDD) an increasingly popular option for glaucoma treatment and are relatively new in Nigeria. AIM: To evaluate the clinical outcomes, number of anti-glaucoma medications and complications in patients who had glaucoma drainage devices implants from a certified skills transfer training program. METHODS: This was a one year retrospective case series review of patients with GDD implants during a skills transfer certification training program in Nigeria in 2023. RESULTS: Twenty three participants made up of 14 males and 9 females with a mean age of 57.6 SD 14.7 underwent a GDD surgical procedure. The mean pre-operative intraocular pressure of the participants was 23.6±8.7, which dropped to 14 mmHg ± 4.9 mmHg at one year (P = 0.007). The average number of medications of the participants before the GDD implants was 3.3±0.9, and this reduced to 1.4 ± 1.3 medication at one year (P = 0.003). One patient had scleral melting and another had accelerated cataract with tube-cornea touch. CONCLUSION: The satisfactory clinical outcome from this procedure justifies the benefits of GDD surgical skill transfer program. We recommend the use of GDD implants as a treatment option for glaucoma in Nigeria.