Primary open-angle glaucoma in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a chronic progressive optic neuropathy often associated with increased intraocular pressure resulting in irreversible degeneration of the retinal ganglion cells and their axons, optic disc cupping and characteristic visual field defects. Recently, POAG has become the second major blinding disease worldwide. In most parts of sub-Saharan Africa, it is either the second or the third contributor to blindness. More data needs to be gathered in order to obtain a more complete understanding of its burden, and to allow better public health planning, public education, prevalence assessment and management strategies. The present review gives an overview of available data on prevalence, risk factors and treatment, and highlights the challenges that POAG presents in SSA. Nigerian Journal of Ophthalmology Vol. 14(1) 2006: 22-26