The association between glaucoma treatment adherence with disease progression and loss to follow-up.

Prospective cohort study from Brazil to evaluate glaucoma treatment adherence using a medication event monitoring system (MEMS) device and correlate with glaucoma progression and loss to follow-up (LTF) after one year of follow up. We included primary open glaucoma (POAG) patients treated with at least one ocular hypotensive eye drop. MEMS devices was used to monitor adherence for 60 days and evaluate the percentage of doses prescribed taken within the 60-day period. We classified patients according to rates of adherence: low adherence (less than 75% from MEMS measurements) and high adherence (more than 75% from MEMS measurements). We applied a questionnaire to investigated self-reported behavior towards treatment behaviors (glaucoma treatment compliance assessment tool, GTCAT). We also correlated rates of treatment adherence with clinical, demographical variables and the occurrence of glaucoma progression or LTF after one year of observation. We included 110 POAG patients and found that 28.18% of them were considered low adherent. We identify several variables associated with poor adherence such as glaucoma progression, LTF, younger age, low educational and income levels, absence of health insurance, years of disease and peak intraocular pressure. Several constructs from the self-reported GTCAT were also correlated with the rates of treatment adherence. To date, this is the first study in Latin America to evaluate glaucoma treatment adherence with MEMS devices and correlate adherence rates with glaucoma progression and LTF. We found a low-adherence rate of 28.18% and several additional risk factors were statistically associated with poor adherence.

Intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation by femtosecond laser for the correction of residual astigmatism after penetrating keratoplasty.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intracorneal ring segments (ICRSs) aided by femtosecond (FS) laser for the correction of residual astigmatism after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). METHODS: This retrospective noncomparative study comprised 14 eyes of 14 patients with high astigmatism after PKP who had ICRS implantation by femtosecond laser. The study evaluated uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), refractive astigmatism, and corneal maximum curvature. RESULTS: The CDVA postoperatively improved after 3 months (P < 0.001) and 6 months (P < 0.001) compared with CDVA preoperatively. The CDVA at 3 months was similar to that at 6 months (P > 0.999) as well as the UDVA (P = 0.276). The preoperative astigmatism was higher than that after surgery (P = 0.001). The preoperative maximum curvature was higher than that of the postoperative maximum curvature (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The implantation of ICRSs using the femtosecond laser for residual astigmatism post-PKP was safe and showed satisfactory results. It reduced refractive astigmatism and maximum corneal curvature and improved UDVA and CDVA.

Do environmental factors influence excimer laser pulse fluence and efficacy?

PURPOSE: To evaluate excimer laser fluence after experimentally induced changes in room temperature and relative air humidity. METHODS: Excimer laser fluence was analyzed with a specific power meter under three different gradients of room temperature and relative air humidity as well as the reproducibility of myopic correction of -3.00 diopters in a polymethylmethacrylate plate test. RESULTS: Under the simulated environmental conditions, no significant difference in laser energy fluence and reproduction of myopic correction was observed. CONCLUSIONS: In a setting with controlled temperature and relative air humidity, subtle changes in environmental factors do not appear to influence laser fluence and efficacy.

[Major indications for corneal penetrating keratoplasty at a reference service in São Paulo state (Sorocaba - SP, Brazil)]. / Principais indicações de transplante penetrante de córnea em um serviço de referência no interior de São Paulo (Sorocaba - SP, Brasil).

PURPOSE: To identify the main indications for corneal transplantation, analyze the results and provide demographic and epidemiological profile of patients referred to the Corneal Transplantation Project. METHODS: A retrospective analysis, from June to December 2003, of patients referred to the Corneal Transplantation Project. RESULTS: Total of 171 patients. One hundred and two (59.6%) patients were male and 69 (40.3%) female; mean age was 37 years. One hundred and six (49%) patients had indication for corneal transplantation. The origins of patients were: São Paulo (68%), Minas Gerais (6%), Paraná (6%), Rio de Janeiro (5%), Maranhão (3%) and others (12%). The main indications: keratoconus 65%, pseudophakic bullous keratopathy 21%, corneal scarring 10%, Fuchs dystrophy 1.9%, lattice dystrophy 0.9% and Stevens-Johnson syndrome 0.9%. CONCLUSION: Many patients referred to corneal transplantation had no indication for such procedure. This fact demonstrates the poor knowledge of general ophthalmologists about the real indications of penetrating keratoplasty. Keratoconus was the major indication followed by pseudophakic bullous keratopathy.