Avoidable sight loss from glaucoma: is it unavoidable?

AIMS: To review the characteristics of patients attending a tertiary ophthalmic referral centre certified as sight impaired (SI) or severely sight impaired (SSI) from glaucoma. METHODS: One hundred consecutive patients certified SI/SSI from the Glaucoma Service at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, from January 2007 were identified from the England and Wales certification of visual impairment database. Clinical and demographic data were collected from hospital case records. RESULTS: The median (IQR) age of patients at presentation was 66.3 (55.6 to 75.3) years; median (IQR) interval to certification was 62.2 (22.5 to 129.3) months. Fifty-seven patients presented with bilateral SSI (median (IQR) age 70.4 (59.0 to 76.9) years); interval to certification was 35.4 (5.6 to 78.1) months. Seventeen patients presented with a bilateral SI (median (IQR) age 62.1 (58.7 to 68.4) years; median (IQR) interval to certification: 137.4 (64.4 to 190.4) months). Twenty-eight patients showed disease progression while under National Health Service hospital eye service care, five of whom had no certifiable visual impairment in either eye at presentation. This was attributed to inadequate intraocular pressure control; five of these patients (18%) were deemed poorly compliant to topical hypotensive medication. CONCLUSIONS: Over 80% patients on the certification of visual impairment register from Moorfields Eye Hospital with glaucoma as the primary cause had a significant visual disability at presentation, with almost two-thirds of patients presenting bilaterally 'blind'. There appear to be delays to certification. Despite being under the hospital eye service, a number of glaucoma patients still progress to certifiable visual impairment.

Intravitreal bevacizumab in refractory neovascular glaucoma: a prospective, observational case series.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab for pain relief in eyes with refractory neovascular glaucoma. METHODS: In this prospective case series, 52 eyes with neovascular glaucoma were administered intravitreal bevacizumab, 1.25 mg, and monitored for 6 months. The primary outcome measure was change in subjective pain score. Intraocular pressure and iris neovascularization were evaluated at each visit. Surgical intervention for control of intraocular pressure was performed according to clinical need. RESULTS: Forty-two patients (44 eyes) completed the 6-month follow-up. Subjective pain score was reduced significantly 1 week after intravitreal bevacizumab injection and lasted throughout the follow-up period (median [interquartile range]: baseline, 3 [0-6]; week 1, 1 [0-3]; month 1, 0 [0-1]; month 3, 0 [0-1]; and month 6, 0 [0-0]; Kruskal-Wallis χ(2) 31.03; P < .001). A rapid, yet relatively transient, reduction in iris neovascularization was also noted (iris neovascularization grade at baseline, 4.0 [3-4]; week 1, 2.5 [1-4]; month 1, 2.0 [1-4]; month 3, 3.0 [2-4]; and month 6, 3.0 [2-4], χ(2) 23.33; P < .001). Four eyes (8%) required more than 1 injection to facilitate further intraocular surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal bevacizumab is a useful adjunct in the management of refractory neovascular glaucoma, producing rapid relief of pain. However, we found no evidence to suggest that intravitreal bevacizumab lowers intraocular pressure in eyes with angle closure; conventional medical, laser, and surgical treatment are still needed in these eyes.

A 6-week, double-masked, parallel-group study of the efficacy and safety of travoprost 0.004% compared with latanoprost 0:005%/timolol 0.5% in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to directly compare the intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering efficacy and safety of travoprost 0.004% eyedrops with the fixed combination of latanoprost 0.005%/timolol 0.5% eyedrops in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. METHODS: This was a randomized, double-masked, multicenter, parallel-group, active-controlled study. Adult subjects with open-angle glaucoma (with or without pseudoexfoliation or pigment dispersion component) or ocular hypertension were eligible to participate if their IOP was inadequately controlled with > or =4 weeks of beta-blocker monotherapy, as indicated by IOP of 22 to 36 mm Hg at 9 AM at screening. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive placebo + travoprost or latanoprost/timolol + placebo. Patients in the travoprost group administered travoprost at 9 PM and placebo at 9 AM; patients in the latanoprost/timolol group administered latanoprost/timolol at 9 AM and placebo at 9 PM. IOP measurements were performed using Goldmann applanation tonometry at 9 AM and 5 PM at the week-2 and week-6 visits. Both volunteered and elicited reports of adverse events were collected; all patients who were randomized and received > or =1 dose of study drug were included in the safety analysis. RESULTS: One hundred ten patients were randomized, of whom 106 patients were evaluable (travoprost, n = 50; latanoprost/timolol, n = 56). There were no statistically significant differences at baseline between the treatment groups, based on age group, sex, race, iris color, or diagnosis. Mean IOP values were not statistically different between groups at baseline or during treatment. In the pooled results for 9 Am assessment at weeks 2 and 6, mean (SEM) IOP reductions for travoprost and latanoprost/timolol were 7.0 (0.5) and 6.4 (0.5) mm Hg, respectively (P = NS). Adverse events related to therapy were mild in nature, and there were no statistically significant differences between the 2 treatment groups. The most frequently experienced adverse events in the travoprost group were ocular hyperemia (9.3%), foreign body sensation (5.6%), abnormal vision (1.9%), allergic reaction (1.9%), conjunctivitis (1.9%), dacryocystitis (1.9%), eye discharge (1.9%), eye pruritus (1.9%), lid edema (1.9%), lid erythema (1.9%), and tearing (1.9%). In the latanoprost/timolol group, the most frequently experienced adverse events were cataract (1.8%), dry eyes (1.8%), eye pruritus (1.8%), foreign body sensation (1.8%), and ocular hyperemia (1.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Mean IOP changes from baseline for travoprost 0.004% and latanoprost 0.005%/timolol 0.5% fixed combination were not significantly different at follow-up in these patients. Both medications were well tolerated.

Interpreting glaucoma progression by white-on-white perimetry.

Sequential automated static perimetry is commonly used to test whether glaucoma is progressing, but its interpretation depends on analysing complex numerical data and can be complicated. Various methods of analysis - both subjective and objective - can be used, but these methods differ in their interpretation of change. Test fluctuation and media opacities can also confound the evaluation of change. Recently, innovations in perimetric testing and analysis have sought to provide solutions. This article reviews what is known about the nature of visual field progression and examines the usefulness of perimetry in detecting worsening glaucoma.