Glaucoma surgery preferences when the surgeon adopts the role of the patient.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To survey the members of the American Glaucoma Society (AGS) to determine which glaucoma procedures they would prefer to have performed on themselves. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We distributed an anonymous, electronic survey via the AGS listserv. The participants were asked to adopt the role of a patient with primary open angle glaucoma with progressive visual field loss in need of glaucoma surgery. Three preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) levels were provided (>26 mmHg, 21-26 mmHg, and <21 mmHg), and the participants were asked to choose a glaucoma procedure they would prefer performed on themselves under each preoperative IOP levels from a list of fifteen procedures. RESULTS: Out of 289 responses (representing 27.4% of active and provisional AGS members), the most preferred procedures were ab interno trabeculotomy (20.3%), Xen gel stent (18.6%), iStent with two devices (14.3%) and traditional trabeculectomy augmented with mitomycin C (14.1%). 17.6% and 6.9% of participants preferred a trabeculectomy performed or a glaucoma drainage device (GDD) implanted on themselves, which is a lower than what would be offered to a hypothetical patient. Significant proportions of participants prefer non-bleb forming or conjunctiva-sparing procedures, even with low preoperative IOP levels. Older participants were more likely to prefer traditional trabeculectomy and having a single procedure across all levels of preoperative IOP. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of AGS participants in the survey would prefer micro-invasive glaucoma surgery over traditional trabeculectomy or a GDD performed on themselves as a primary glaucoma procedure, and most would prefer non-bleb forming and conjunctiva-sparing procedures.

Quantitative Assessment of Optic Nerve Changes in Patients With Diabetic Macular Edema Treated With Fluocinolone Acetonide Vitreous Implants.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate glaucomatous changes in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) treated with intravitreal implants releasing 0.2 µg/day or 0.5 µg/day fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) (Iluvien 0.2 µg/day; Alimera Sciences, Alpharetta, GA) or sham control. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fundus photographs were assessed to determine clinically significant changes in glaucomatous indicators. RESULTS: The mean cup-to-disc ratio (CDR) change was similar with all three treatments. Compared with sham control, a significantly greater proportion of patients treated with 0.5 µg/day but not 0.2 µg/day FAc experienced a CDR increase of greater than 0.1. There was no significant increase in the proportion of patients experiencing a CDR increase of greater than 0.2 with either dose of implant versus sham control. Other indicators of glaucomatous change did not differ significantly with treatment. Subgroup analyses showed no differences in cupping based on ocular or baseline characteristics. CONCLUSION: Treatment with FAc for 36 months was not associated with significant glaucomatous optic nerve head changes in patients with DME with or without increased intraocular pressure. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2016;47:418-425.].

Structural-functional dissociation in presumed ethambutol optic neuropathy.

A 55-year-old man with pulmonary Mycobacterium avium intracellulare infection developed decreased vision to 3/200 in the right eye, and 20/200 in the left eye, 11 months after starting ethambutol, rifampin, and isoniazid. A diagnosis of presumed ethambutol optic neuropathy was made, and the medications were discontinued. Visual acuity gradually improved to 20/30 and 20/70 over a period of 34 months. Despite improved central vision and visual field, the patient developed progressive bilateral optic disc cupping, disc pallor, and diffuse nerve fiber layer loss on optical coherence tomography. The observed optic nerve head structural changes in this patient did not correlate with the markedly improved visual function. Visual improvement may occur in ethambutol optic neuropathy despite progressive structural changes.

Five-year follow-up optic disc findings of the Collaborative Initial Glaucoma Treatment Study.

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering on the optic disc in patients of the Collaborative Initial Glaucoma Treatment Study (CIGTS) after 5 years. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. METHODS: The baseline and 5-year stereoscopic optic disc photographs of 348 eyes (patients) randomized to medical or surgical treatment of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) were assessed by 2 independent readers for change in a masked side-by-side comparison, and confirmed by an independent committee. RESULTS: Three hundred and three (87.1%) eyes showed no change, 22 (6.3%) showed enlargement of the cup along any meridian (progression), and 23 (6.6%) showed a reduction in the cup along any meridian (reversal of cupping). Incidence of optic disc progression was higher (P = .007) in the medicine group, 18/185 (10%) than in the surgical group 4/163 (3%); and the incidence of reversal of cupping was higher (P < .001) in the surgical group, 21/163 (13%), than the medicine group, 2/185 (1%), (P < .001). Visual field (VF) worsening (mean deviation) was significantly associated with progression of optic disc cupping (P < .001). Reversal of cupping was also associated with lower postoperative IOP (P < .001). Reversal of cupping was not associated with improvement of either visual acuity or central VFs. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery prevents or delays glaucomatous progression as measured by optic disc criteria in patients with early OAG. Reversal of cupping occurs more frequently in the surgical group than in the medical treatment group. Reversal is associated with lower IOP, but is not associated with improved visual function.

Pattern electroretinogram abnormality and glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To determine the existence of retinal ganglion cell dysfunction and associated risk factors in glaucoma suspects with increased optic disc cupping and normal visual field. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, observational study. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred glaucoma suspect (GS) patients were identified based on optic disc abnormalities (vertical cup-to-disc ratios [C/D]>0.5; vertical C/D asymmetry >or= 0.2; disc hemorrhages; notching) in association with known glaucoma risk factors (positive family history, African American descent, increased intraocular pressure [IOP]), but normal visual fields. Forty-two patients had early manifest glaucoma (EMG). Sixteen normal black subjects were added to update previous pattern electroretinogram (PERG) normative data and to establish a normal control (NC) group with a racial breakdown comparable with that of the study groups. METHODS: Pattern electroretinograms were recorded simultaneously from both eyes using skin electrodes and automated analysis; visual fields were monitored with standard white-on-white automated perimetry (SAP) central 24-2 program; vertical C/D was evaluated by an independent reader from stereo disc photographs; and univariate and multivariate statistical analysis between PERG and other outcome measures was evaluated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pattern electroretinogram amplitude (microV), phase (pi rad), and interocular asymmetry in amplitude and phase (%); and SAP mean deviation (MD; decibels), vertical C/D, age (years), IOP (mmHg), and race (black vs. nonblack). RESULTS: The PERG results were abnormal in at least 1 of the outcome measures in 52% of GS patients and 69% of EMG patients. The PERG amplitude was correlated weakly with both MD (P<0.01) and vertical C/D (P = 0.05). The correlation between PERG amplitude and MD and C/D was stronger (P<0.001) for interocular differences rather than absolute measures. Interocular PERG amplitude asymmetry increased with severity of disease (EMG>GS>NC; P<0.01). The PERG amplitude decline with age was steeper in patients with a more negative MD (P<0.01) and in patients with a more negative MD and a larger vertical C/D (P = 0.06). Black race (but not family history) was associated with lower PERG amplitude (P = 0.005) in GS and EMG patients, but not in normal controls (P = 0.44). CONCLUSIONS: The correlation between PERG abnormality and known risk factors for glaucoma indicates that PERG has a predictive potential for the development or progression of the disease, or both.