Presentation, surgery and 1-year outcomes of childhood cataract surgery in Tanzania.

Background: Recent reports have suggested a significant change in the causes of blindness in children in low-income countries cataract becoming the leading cause. We aimed to investigate the presentations and surgical outcomes in children with cataract operated at different ages in Tanzania.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study of 228 children aged ≤192 months at three tertiary centres, 177 with bilateral cataracts and prospectively followed them for 1-year postsurgery.

Outcomes of goniotomy for primary congenital glaucoma in East Africa.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of goniotomy to treat primary congenital glaucoma in an east African population.

Design: A retrospective series using case records. For patients who underwent goniotomies in both eyes, only the first was analyzed.

Why are children brought late for cataract surgery? Qualitative findings from Tanzania.

Purpose: Worldwide, at least 190,000 children are blind due to cataract. Although, surgical intervention is the treatment of choice, in most developing countries the number of children with cataract being brought to hospital for surgery has been few in number, considerably less than the burden of disease in the community. Furthermore, long delay in presentation is a major deterrent to improved visual outcome and compromises the future quality of life of children and their families.