Comparison between primary Ahmed valve implantation and primary trabeculectomy with mitomycin C in pseudophakic patients with exfoliative glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy and safety of primary Ahmed valve implantation (AVI) and primary trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (MMC) in patients with pseudophakic exfoliative glaucoma (XFG). METHODS: All enrolled patients were divided into two groups: the TRAB group, comprising patients who underwent trabeculectomy with MMC, and the AVI group, comprising patients who underwent AVI. Intraocular pressure (IOP), mean deviation (MD), endothelial cell density of cornea (ECD), and the number of topical anti-glaucoma agents used during study period were retrospectively analyzed. Surgical success rates were compared between two groups using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Three levels of surgical success were defined as follows: (1) IOP ≤ 18 mmHg and an IOP reduction of 20% without medication; (2) IOP ≤ 15 mmHg and an IOP reduction of 25% without medication; and (3) IOP ≤ 18 mmHg and an IOP reduction of 20%, irrespective of medication. RESULTS: The TRAB and AVI groups comprised 40 and 36 patients, respectively. At 36 months postoperatively, IOP was 15.7 ± 2.8 mmHg in the TRAB group and 16.9 ± 3.3 mmHg in the AVI group (p = 0.140). Surgical success rates in the TRAB group were 47.5, 37.5, and 77.5% and those in the AVI group were 41.6, 33.3, and 75.0% at 36 months for surgical criteria 1, 2, and 3, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in the success rates between the two groups. However, regarding surgical criteria 2, the success rate of the AVI group at 1 year was significantly better than that of the TRAB group (p = 0.030). CONCLUSIONS: Primary AVI was not inferior to primary trabeculectomy with MMC in medically uncontrolled patients with XFG.

The effect of uneventful cataract surgery in pseudoexfoliation glaucoma with or without previous mitomycin C-augmented trabeculectomy.

PURPOSE: To analyze the effect of uneventful cataract surgery on intraocular pressure (IOP) in pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG) eyes with and without a history of Mitomycin C-augmented trabeculectomy. METHODS: Eyes with PXG that had underwent uneventful cataract surgery were enrolled. The IOP and the medication numbers before cataract surgery, and 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 months after cataract surgery, and at the last visit were recorded in PXG with and without previous trabeculectomy. Failure was defined as IOP > 21 or ≤ 21 mmHg with additional medication or surgery. In the postoperative first 24 h, IOP > 50% above baseline was defined as an IOP spike. RESULTS: In the trabeculectomized eyes (n = 37), the increase in the mean IOP (p = 0.024) and the increase in the mean number of medications (p = 0.007) was significant at the last visit when compared with baseline. In the non-trabeculectomized eyes (n = 42) there was a significant decrease in the mean IOP (p = 0.016) and in the mean number of medications (p = 0.038) at the last visit. Twelve eyes (32.4%) in trabeculectomized group and six (14.3%) in the non-trabeculectomized group experienced failure. An IOP spike was seen in one eye in the trabeculectomized group, in 15 eyes in the non-trabeculectomized group (p < 0.0001). The IOP spike was a significant risk factor for failure (p = 0.027). CONCLUSION: Uneventful cataract surgery may have significant negative effect on the IOP control in the trabeculectomized PXG eyes. After cataract surgery, the non-trabeculectomized PXG eyes had a higher risk of IOP spike and an IOP spike may be a risk factor for failure.

Micropulse laser trabeculoplasty on pseuodexfoliation glaucoma patients under topical prostaglandin analogue monotherapy: 1-year results.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a single session of micropulse laser trabeculoplasty (MLT) to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEXG). METHODS: In this single-center, one-arm, prospective study patients with PEXG under prostaglandine analogue monotherapy with inadequate IOP control were treated with 360° 532-nm MLT. Patients were evaluated at 1 day, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months post-MLT while they were treated with the same drug regimen as pre-MLT. Mean IOP reduction and percentage of IOP change during the follow-up were calculated. Cases that required any further intervention, like additional hypotensive medication, laser or surgical therapy, throughout the study period were considered failures and removed from the study. RESULTS: Twenty-seven eyes (27 patients, 17 male) were included in the study. The age of the patients was 72.37 ± 6.29 years and the baseline IOP was 20.41 ± 1.87 mmHg. Treatment with MLT resulted in significantly lower IOP at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after MLT compared to baseline (p < 0.0001 for all comparisons). By the end of the study, 52.17% of the PEXG eyes demonstrated a ≥ 20% IOP reduction compared to baseline. Four eyes (14.81%) did not respond to MLT (three eyes at 3 months and one eye at 6 months after trabeculoplasty) and were considered failures since they required additional intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Micropulse laser trabeculoplasty appears to be an effective method to lower IOP in patients with PEXG up to 12 month of follow-up period. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered on www.ClinicalTrials.gov with registration number NCT03483402.

Initial trabeculectomy with 5-fluorouracil with or without subconjunctival bevacizumab in the management of pseudoexfoliation glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To investigate the outcomes of trabeculectomy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with or without subconjunctival bevacizumab in the surgical management of pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG). METHODS: This retrospective study consisted of 49 cases with PXG who underwent initial trabeculectomy with 5-FU. The cases were divided into two age- and sex-matched groups. In 23 cases, subconjunctival bevacizumab was injected (1.25 mg/0.05 mL) at the end of the surgery and in 26 of them the surgery was performed without bevacizumab. The groups were evaluated for the postoperative differences of the intraocular pressure (IOP) and the number of the anti-glaucomatous medications. Independent t, Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Chi square tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mean preoperative IOP was 30.91 ± 4.50 mmHg under the mean number of 2.4 ± 0.7 drops in bevacizumab group. The IOP decreased to 10.22 ± 2.63 mmHg (first week), 10.91 ± 1.88 mmHg (first month), 12.35 ± 2.5 mmHg (3rd month), 12.65 ± 2.35 mmHg (sixth month) and 12.7 ± 1.9 mmHg at the final visit. The mean preoperative IOP was 31.27 ± 5.60 mmHg under the mean number of 2.3 ± 0.7 drops in without bevacizumab group. The IOP decreased to 10.08 ± 2.59 mmHg (first week), 11.00 ± 1.87 mmHg (first month), 12.81 ± 2.04 (3rd month), 13.62 ± 2.21 mmHg (sixth month) and 12.9 ± 2.4 mmHg at the final visit. In both groups, IOP reduced significantly postoperatively. There were no significant differences between the preoperative and the postoperative IOP values. CONCLUSION: The additional benefit of single dose of intraoperative bevacizumab was not observed in trabeculectomy with 5-FU in PXG.

[Multi-level analysis of the prevalence of pseudoexfoliative syndrome and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma]. / Vozmozhnosti i otsenka éffektivnosti gipotenzivnoi terapii pri psevdoéksfoliativnom sindrome.

Epidemiological investigation of pseudoexfoliative syndrome (PEX) as a glaucoma predictor is necessary for antiglaucoma treatment planning. AIM: To study the prevalence of PEX and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PXFG) among healthy people, naïve patients, and patients under observation as well as to evaluate the hypotensive efficacy of bimatoprost/timolol fixed combination (FCBT) over 4 months in PXFG. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Epidemiological analysis, ophthalmological examination, statistical analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of PEX among healthy Novosibirsk and Novosibirsk region citizens is 19.9%. In ophthalmologically compromised population and first-time patients, the prevalence of PEX is 24%, of which PXFG constitutes 57.2%. Retrospectively, the prevalence of PXFG in PEX patients who were treated and followed up appeared to be as high as 60.8%. PXFG also accounts for 70% of all open-angle glaucoma cases in the Novosibirsk region, which is much higher than the corresponding rates in the European part of Russia. A 4-month FCBT therapy in 5 groups of PXFG patients (no treatment, monotherapy, another fixed combination, two drugs, three drugs) has yielded an evident hypotensive effect in most patients. The decrease in intraocular pressure was clinically significant in all groups. CONCLUSION: There has been found a high prevalence of PEX and PXFG in the Novosibirsk region. FCBT has demonstrated high hypotensive efficacy at all stages of PXFG and was beneficial even in patients treated with other medications or fixed combinations and in refractory cases.

Anterior chamber aqueous flare, pseudoexfoliation syndrome, and glaucoma.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate anterior chamber aqueous flare (ACAF) in Tunisian patients with pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome with or without associated glaucoma. This is a prospective, cross-sectional, comparative study including 53 patients (88 eyes) with PEX syndrome, 48 patients with PEX glaucoma (86 eyes), and 53 healthy sex-and age-matched control subjects (106 eyes). All patients underwent a complete ophthalmic examination and laser flare photometry. Mean ACAF was significantly higher in the PEX syndrome group in comparison with the control group (17.96 ± 10.05 vs 7.06 ± 2.95 ph/ms; p = 10(-4)), in patients with PEX glaucoma compared to PEX syndrome without associated glaucoma (27.99 ± 15.45 vs 17.96 ± 10.05 ph/ms; p = 10(-4)), in the PEX glaucoma group in comparison with control group (27.99 ± 15.45 vs 7.06 ± 2.95 ph/ms; p = 10(-4)), and in patients with unilateral PEX syndrome in comparison with contralateral-unaffected eyes (25.72 ± 14.88 vs 8.58 ± 3.45 ph/ms; p = 0.000). For patients with PEX syndrome, a high ACAF might be a predictor for the development of glaucoma. Further investigations are needed to clarify the role of laser flare photometry in predicting the risk of glaucoma in patients with PEX syndrome.

Intraocular pressure-lowering medications and long-term outcomes of selective laser trabeculoplasty.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effects of current intraocular pressure-lowering medications on the efficacy of selective laser trabeculoplasty. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review of records from an urban glaucoma clinic in Sydney, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Patients who received their first selective laser trabeculoplasty between 2002 and 2005 were studied (grouped from 0 to 3 according to the number of pre-selective laser trabeculoplasty medications, and followed for 5 years). Those with previous argon laser therapy, trabeculectomy or angle-closure were excluded. METHODS: Selective laser trabeculoplasty (Ellex) used to deliver 180 or 360 degree of treatment, under the same protocol. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Responders were defined by ≥20% reduction from baseline intraocular pressure. Data were censored when pressure-lowering intervention was required. The mean intraocular pressure, survivor, response rate, number and type of medications were compared. RESULTS: There were 206 patients with ocular hypertension, primary, pseudo-exfoliation, or pigmentary glaucoma who used none (n = 20), one (n = 33), two (n = 61) or three or more (n = 92) pre-selective laser trabeculoplasty topical anti-glaucoma medications. The mean baseline intraocular pressures for each group was 23.7, 22.2, 20.7 and 20.4 mmHg, respectively (P = 0.061). Post-treatment mean intraocular pressure was 17.9, 17.7, 15.5, and 15.7 mmHg; percentage reduction was similar between groups (23.6-25.6%, P = 0.20). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed comparable survival rates across groups (P = 0.445). At 60 months, 11.1, 17.1, 30.5 and 11.5% of responders remained in each group. Higher proportions of patients in groups 2 and 3 required further laser or surgery. CONCLUSION: The number of pre-selective laser trabeculoplasty medications did not affect the intraocular pressure-lowering effectiveness of selective laser trabeculoplasty; however, groups on more medications required more pressure-lowering interventions.

Anti-inflammatory therapy after selective laser trabeculoplasty: a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of anti-inflammatory therapy on selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) outcomes. DESIGN: Randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with primary open-angle or pseudo-exfoliation glaucoma. METHODS: Patients undergoing SLT were randomized to receive placebo (artificial tears), prednisolone acetate 1%, or ketorolac tromethamine 0.5% eye drops 4 times per day for 5 days commencing immediately after SLT. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in intraocular pressure (IOP) from baseline to the 1-month post-SLT visit. RESULTS: Mean change in IOP at the 1-month primary outcome time point, as well as all other time points, was not significantly different among groups (P = 0.99). Likewise, a repeated-measures, mixed-effects model did not find significant differences in IOP outcome at the 1-month time point (P = 0.95). The IOP was reduced in all groups at the 1-month post-SLT time point and all other time points, and no significant differences were found between groups using separate unadjusted cross-sectional analyses of variance (P > 0.15 for analyses at all time points). Treatment failure rates were not different among groups (P = 0.75), and at 1 year after SLT, the percentage of patients maintaining a 20% IOP reduction ranged from 18% to 22% in the 3 study groups. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-inflammatory therapy after SLT does not seem to substantially influence the IOP-lowering effect of SLT. In this study of patients with low baseline IOP, SLT showed limited efficacy in achieving a sustained reduction in IOP.

Effect of ketorolac add-on treatment on intra-ocular pressure in glaucoma patients receiving prostaglandin analogues.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: While topical ocular hypotensive agents cause secretion of endogenous prostaglandin (PG), systemic and topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents inhibit its production; thus, they may interfere with therapeutic efficacy. This study aimed to investigate the effect of add-on treatment with ketorolac on intra-ocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effects of three different PG analogues. METHODS: This study included 30 adult bilateral glaucoma patients who had been receiving PG analogues for primary open-angle glaucoma (n = 25) or pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (n = 5). Ketorolac tromethamine 0.5% and placebo drops were administered to the right and left eyes of the patients, respectively, 4 times a day for 1 week. IOP measurements were performed at baseline, within the first 4 h after application, on days 1, 3 and 7, and 1 and 7 days after discontinuation of the treatment. RESULTS: Eyes receiving ketorolac had significantly lower IOP throughout the treatment period (p < 0.001). Patients who were on latanoprost, travoprost and bimatoprost did not differ with regard to the change in IOP (p = 0.780). After discontinuation, pressures became similar on day 1 (p = 0.796) and day 7 (p = 0.314). CONCLUSION: In glaucoma patients, ketorolac significantly enhances the IOP-lowering effects of latanoprost, travoprost and bimatoprost.

Comparison of the use of 5-fluorouracil and bevacizumab in primary trabeculectomy: results at 1 year.

BACKGROUND: The present study compared the effects of adjuvant bevacizumab and 5-fluorouracil on the efficacy and safety of trabeculectomy. DESIGN: A nonrandomized, prospective, interventional case study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 62 patients in two groups undergoing primary trabeculectomy. METHODS: In Group 1 (21 primary open-angle glaucoma, nine pseudoexfoliative glaucoma), trabeculectomy was performed with an adjuvant 5% solution of 5-fluorouracil administered for 4 min, intraoperatively. In Group 2 (21 primary open-angle glaucoma, 11 pseudoexfoliative glaucoma), trabeculectomy was enhanced with 1.25 mg of bevacizumab applied subconjunctivally immediately before and after surgery and again 1 and 7 days after surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intraocular pressure, best corrected visual acuity, visual field index, bleb morphology, cornel endothelial cell count. RESULTS: Mean intraocular pressure was 28.0 ± 8.0 mmHg before 5-fluorouracil-augmented trabeculectomy and 27.8 ± 9.5 mmHg before bevacizumab-augmented trabeculectomy. After 12 months, mean intraocular pressure was 13.6 ± 4.4 mmHg in the 5-fluorouracil group and 14.7 ± 4.7 mmHg in the bevacizumab group. A 30% reduction of initial intraocular pressure was attained in 86.7% of patients in the 5-fluorouracil group and 78.1% of patients in the bevacizumab group at the end of follow up. No significant differences were noted between the two studied groups with respect to corneal endothelial density, visual field indices and postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: The 12-month intraocular pressure results showed no significant differences between the two groups of patients after bevacizumab or 5-fluorouracil to augment trabeculectomy. However, to obtain successful intraocular pressure control more patients in bevacizumab group needed medical therapy.

Plasma and aqueous humour levels of ghrelin in open-angle glaucoma patients.

BACKGROUND: To compare aqueous humour and plasma levels of ghrelin, a peptide recently identified in human eyes, in patients with open-angle glaucoma and controls. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, controlled, hospital-based study. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-four open-angle glaucoma (17 primary open-angle and 7 pseudo-exfoliation glaucoma) patients and 30 controls were included. All participants were patients scheduled for cataract or glaucoma surgery. Patients with other ocular pathology, previous ocular surgery or diabetes were excluded. METHODS: Blood samples were collected before elective surgery. Aqueous humour was aspirated from the anterior chamber through a paracentesis with a 27-G needle under sterile conditions before any tissue manipulation. Ghrelin quantification was performed with commercially available Radioimmunoassay kits. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Ghrelin levels in aqueous humour and plasma. RESULTS: Plasma levels of ghrelin were 490.5 ± 156.0 pg/mL in the open-angle glaucoma and 482.2 ± 125.4 pg/mL in the control group (Mann-Whitney test, P = 0.897). Aqueous humour levels of ghrelin were 85.5 ± 15.4 and 123.4 ± 25.5 pg/mL in the respective groups (P < 0.001). The ratio of plasma/aqueous humour ghrelin concentration was higher in the open-angle glaucoma versus the control group (5.75 ± 1.92 vs. 4.00 ± 1.04, P < 0.001). There was no difference in aqueous humour levels of ghrelin between primary open-angle glaucoma and pseudo-exfoliation glaucoma patients (P = 0.494). CONCLUSIONS: Aqueous humour levels of ghrelin were significantly lower in open-angle glaucoma patients, compared with controls. This difference may manifest a role of ghrelin in the disease process or a consequence of antiglaucoma treatment.

Selective laser trabeculoplasty in the treatment of pseudoexfoliation glaucoma in patients allergic to all anti-glaucoma drops.

Secondary chronic open-angle glaucoma associated with pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome accounts for approximately 25% of all glaucomas and represents the most common identifiable cause of glaucoma overall. Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is effective in reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucomatous patients and has the advantage of preserving surrounding structures. We report here SLT treatment of a 82 year old female with a secondary developed open-angle pseudoexfoliation glaucoma allergic to all anti glaucoma eye drops especially those which contain bensalconium chloridum as preservative. Since patient was allergic also to methyl-cellulose, we performed SLT with water as a mediator. Patient had PEX syndrome for 10 years, immature cataracts on both eyes, and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) 0.7 on the right and 0.2 on the left eye. We have monitored intraocular pressure (IOP), the changes in the visual field and optic nerve. Preoperative IOP was 28 mmHg on the right and 30 mmHg on the left eye. The follow up period was 24 months with time points for measured parameters every 3 months. After 18 months IOP remained in the normal values (average 17 mmHg) on the right eye, but on the left eye it increased up to 28 mmHg. SLT re-treatment was carried out on the left eye and the IOP stabilized again on the values between 16-18mmHg. There were no significant change in the visual field and optic nerve configuration before and after SLT (C/D value for right eye: 0.3-0.4; C/D left eye: 0.5). Based on this case report, SLT seems to be very effective treatment for maintaining regular IOP in patient with PEX who is allergic to all types of medications.

Sustained Elevation of Intraocular Pressure After Administration of Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Agents in Patients With and Without Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome.

PRéCIS:: Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy resulted in sustained elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP) in 18.6% of patients with coexisting age-related macular degeneration and pseudoexfoliation (PXF) syndrome. The development of sustained elevation of IOP after ~19 injections reflected the cumulative effect of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections on IOP. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the long-term effect of intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) and intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) therapies on IOP in patients with and without PXF syndrome. DESIGN: This was a retrospective comparative study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from 412 eyes of 206 patients diagnosed with unilateral neovascular age-related macular degeneration, treated with IVR or IVB, and followed-up for at least 6 months, were retrospectively reviewed. Seventy treated and 70 untreated fellow eyes of 70 patients with bilateral PXF syndrome, and 136 treated and 136 untreated fellow eyes of 136 patients without PXF syndrome were included in this study. Demographic information, clinical findings, total number of IVR and IVB injections, and IOP values at each visit were recorded. Sustained elevation of IOP (SE-IOP) was defined as either an IOP >21 mm Hg or a ≥5 mm Hg increase in IOP from baseline for at least 2 consecutive visits. Baseline and final IOP values in each group were compared using the paired sample t test, and IOP changes in the groups were compared using split-plot analysis of variance. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the influence of variables on the development of SE-IOP. RESULTS: The mean (±SD) age of the patients was 77.53±3.78 years (range, 70 to 83 y), and the mean follow-up was 28.50±16.51 months (range, 6 to 58 mo). The mean number of injections was 15.56±8.01 (range, 5 to 36). The mean baseline and final IOP in treated eyes were 14.82±3.08 and 16.50±3.11 mm Hg, respectively (P<0.001). A higher incidence of SE-IOP and higher final IOP values were observed in PXF-positive eyes receiving IVB compared with the other groups. Seven of the patients required antiglaucomatous treatment. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed an increased odds ratio (4.90; P=0.016) of SE-IOP in PXF-positive eyes compared with PXF-negative eyes. CONCLUSION: IVB therapy may cause greater increases in IOP in patients with PXF syndrome. The co-accumulation of PXF material and bevacizumab particles on the trabecular meshwork should be further investigated.

Bilateral acute depigmentation of the iris: report of 26 new cases and four-year follow-up of two patients.

PURPOSE: To report new cases of bilateral acute depigmentation of the iris (BADI), a recently described clinical entity, and to report the 4-year follow-up of 2 patients that was published previously. DESIGN: A retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-six Turkish patients who were diagnosed with BADI between 2006 and 2008 and 2 patients who were reported previously. METHODS: We reviewed the patients' charts and clinical photographs. Observation procedures included clinical examination, anterior segment color photography, laser flare photometry, and pupillometry. We performed an anterior chamber tap in 2 patients for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to demonstrate the DNA of herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella zoster virus (VZV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) in the aqueous samples. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic features, presenting symptoms, laboratory findings, changes in iris stromal pigment and architecture, and time to resolution of pigment dispersion in the anterior chamber. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were female, and 7 patients were male. Mean age was 32.3+/-8.6 years. All had bilateral involvement. Twenty patients (76.9%) presented with photophobia and red eyes, and 4 patients (15.4%) presented with a recent change in eye color. Ten patients (38.5%) had flu-like symptoms preceding the onset of ocular symptoms. Diagnostic laboratory workup, viral serology, and PCR analysis of the aqueous humor were unrewarding. Diffuse depigmentation of the iris stroma from the collarette to the iris root was seen in 16 patients, and geographic areas of depigmentation were seen in 10 patients. There was heavy pigment deposition in the trabecular meshwork in all patients. Anterior chamber flare was elevated in eyes with circulating pigment. The pupil was not affected. Twenty patients received topical corticosteroids. Pigment dispersion resolved in 1 to 16 weeks (median, 9 weeks). The intraocular pressure was elevated in 8 steroid-treated eyes but was controlled with antiglaucomatous medications. In 2 patients reported previously, the depigmented iris stroma became repigmented after 4 years. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with BADI present with bilateral, symmetrical, nontransilluminating depigmentation of the iris stroma and pigment discharge into the anterior chamber. Young female persons are more commonly affected. The cause remains unknown. After 4 years, the ocular findings in 2 patients normalized.

A 12-week study evaluating the efficacy of bimatoprost 0.03% in patients with pseudoexfoliative and open-angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the control of diurnal intraocular pressure (IOP) and the safety profile of bimatoprost in pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PXG) compared to primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). METHODS: A prospective, observer-masked, nonrandomized study was performed. Seventy consecutive patients with either POAG (35 eyes) or PXG (35 eyes) drug-naive for glaucoma were assigned to receive bimatoprost 0.03% once daily for 12 weeks. Diurnal IOP was measured at baseline and after 12 weeks at three time points (8 AM, noon, and 4 PM). Main outcomes were diurnal IOP control and achievement of target IOP (CIGTS criteria). Mean diurnal IOP, hour-by-hour IOP measurements, and safety, including serious adverse events, were also evaluated. RESULTS: A significant IOP reduction from baseline was found in both groups (p<0.001). Mean and hour-by-hour IOP differences between groups were not statistically significant (NS). The observed IOP values and percentages of IOP reduction were 17.0 mmHg (31.5%) and 16.4 mmHg (31.9%) in PXG and POAG eyes, respectively; the differences were not statistically significant. Six eyes (1 POAG and 5 PXG, respectively) responded with a <20% IOP reduction (NS). Twenty-seven POAG (77.1%) and 23 PXG (65.7%) eyes achieved target IOP. Consequently,20 eyes (8 POAG and 12 PXG, respectively) were classified as unable to achieve the IOP target values (NS). CONCLUSIONS: Bimatoprost was effective and safe in lowering IOP both in open angle and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma, achieving target pressure in most patients. However, long-term efficacy in PXG must be evaluated.

Complications of cataract surgery in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The weak zonule's predisposition to complications during conventional cataract surgery is one of the common risk factor for poor visual acuity after surgery. The present study was conducted to determine the frequency and types of complications during cataract surgery in patients with Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome. METHODS: A cross sectional descriptive study based on non probability sampling of patients having pseudoexfoliation syndrome admitted for cataract surgery in tertiary care hospitals was carried out spread over 4 years. The data of all variables of interest were entered and analyzed through SPSS version 15.0. RESULTS: A total of 200 eyes of 122 patients having Psuedoexfoliation were included in the study. Vitreal prolapse in 21 (10.5%) and posterior capsular rupture in 18 (9%) patients were the most common complications seen in Pseudoexfoliation. Damage to sphincter pupillae in 16 (8%), iridodialysis in 2 (1%), decentration of IOL in 8 (4%) and hyphaema in 2 (1%) patients was seen. Zonular dialysis in 8 (4%), retained lens matter in 12 (6%) and lens dislocation was seen in 6 (3%) patients. CONCLUSION: Patients with pseudoexfoliation are at increased risk for development of complications. Ophthalmologists should stress to increase awareness among general public for the proper diagnosis and convince patients for proper and regular follow up visits to the hospital.

[Management of pseudoexfoliative glaucoma in a tertiary center in Romania]. / Managementul glaucomului pseudoexfoliativ într-un centru tertiar din România.

PURPOSE: To analyze the course of the disease and the management of patients with pseudoexfoliative glaucoma in our clinic, a tertiary center for glaucoma. METHOD: Retrospective chart review of patients admitted in the last 8 years (2000-2007). RESULTS: We have collected data concerning 330 eyes (238 patients). The mean follow-up period was 13.85 +/- 11.03 months (limits 0.5-91 months). The mean visual acuity was 0.31 +/- 0.33 and did not alter significantly. The mean initial IOP was 27.25 +/- 13.64 mmHg (50% of eyes were already under treatment, receiving an average of 1.66 +/- 0.72 drugs). During the follow-up period 66.66% of eyes were subject to antiglaucoma surgery. The mean interval from diagnosis to surgery was 10.24 +/- 23.34 months. The final IOP was significantly decreased to 17.02 +/- 7.77 mmHg (68.96% of eyes were receiving topical antiglaucoma therapy, the mean number of drugs being 1.57 +/- 0.71). The C/D ratio increased from 0.76 +/- 0.26 to 0.81 +/- 0.24 (p = 0.01). In automated perimetry the mean deviation increased from 17.13 +/- 11.68 to 17.51 +/- 10.83 (the increase was not significant, p = 0.87). The pattern standard deviation increased from 5.92 +/- 3.83 to 6.16 +/- 3.19 (p = 0.63). A number of 75 patients (31.51%) had cardiovascular diseases, most frequently arterial hypertension (27.31%) and myocardial ischemia (9.66%). CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of our pseudoexfoliative glaucoma patients needed antiglaucoma surgery. Even after surgery, about 2/3 of eyes were still under topical therapy. Under this management, we have noted a progression of the C/D ratio, but not of the visual field parameters during the follow-up period.

Evaluation of oxidative stress in pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma patients treated with and without topical coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E.

PURPOSE:: To evaluate the levels of oxidative stress markers such as superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde in eyes with pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma treated with and without topical coenzyme Q10 (CQ10) and vitamin E (Coqun drop). METHODS:: This prospective, randomized clinical study was conducted on 64 eyes of 64 patients. All patients underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation surgery. Aqueous humor samples were aspirated from the anterior chamber at the beginning of cataract surgery. The pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma + Coqun group received topical Coqun (100 mg CQ10, 500 mg Vitamin E TPGS) twice daily for 1 month preoperatively, while the pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma group consisted of pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma cases who had not taken Coqun. Pseudo-exfoliation syndrome cases formed the pseudo-exfoliation syndrome group. The main outcomes were the superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde levels of aqueous humor in both groups. RESULTS:: The mean aqueous humor superoxide dismutase level was significantly higher in the pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma group than in pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma + Coqun and pseudo-exfoliation syndrome groups (p < 0.001, p = 0.004, respectively). Also, the mean aqueous humor superoxide dismutase level was significantly lower in the pseudo-exfoliation syndrome group than in pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma + Coqun group (p = 0.009). The mean malondialdehyde levels showed no significant difference between the groups (p > 0.05 for all). CONCLUSION:: Our study showed lower aqueous humor level of superoxide dismutase in pseudo-exfoliation syndrome patients compared to pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma patients. Significantly lower superoxide dismutase level was observed in pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma patients who received topical Coqun compared to pseudo-exfoliative glaucoma patients without Coqun treatment. No significant change was observed on the malondialdehyde level during 1-month follow-up period.

Prospective randomized clinical trial on the effects of latanoprost, travoprost and bimatoprost on latanoprost non-responders.

PURPOSE: To determine whether a patient who is non-responder to latanoprost after one month of use should continue using latanoprost or switch to either bimatoprost or travoprost. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective randomized clinical trial. We recruited new patients who were felt to require intraocular pressure reduction. Patients who had≤20% intraocular pressure reduction after one month of latanoprost treatment were randomly assigned to another month of treatment with latanoprost or a switch to bimatoprost or travoprost for an additional month. RESULTS: Overall, 83 non-responders to latanoprost after one month of treatment were included in the study. Before latanoprost treatment, the mean intraocular pressure was 23.7±4.7mmHg. At randomization on latanoprost, mean intraocular pressure was 21.5±4.5mmHg. One month after the switch of medication, the mean reduction in intraocular pressure was not significantly different between the groups (P=0.148) and was -0.9mmHg, -2.10mmHg and -2.5mmHg, for latanoprost, bimatoprost and travoprost respectively. One month after randomization, 32 (38.5%) of the patients had become responders, with IOP reduction>20%. Of those patients, 9 (31%) were using latanoprost, 13 (41.9%) bimatoprost and 10 (43.5%) travoprost. The number of new responders was similar between the three groups (P=0.584). CONCLUSION: There is no added benefit of switching latanoprost to another topical prostaglandin for patients who are initially non-responders. Regression towards the mean and the Hawthorne effect are probably important factors explaining the additional IOP reduction obtained after randomization and explain the result of most switch studies.

Meta-analysis of 24-hour intraocular pressure studies evaluating the efficacy of glaucoma medicines.

PURPOSE: To evaluate efficacy and safety data of currently available ocular hypotensive medicines derived from 24-hour studies, of similar design, in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), exfoliative glaucoma, or ocular hypertension (OH). DESIGN: Meta-analysis of published articles evaluating patients with POAG, exfoliative glaucoma, or OH. METHODS: We included articles that were randomized, prospective, single- or double-masked, comparative studies of ocular hypotensive therapies over 24 hours. Each article selected contained an untreated baseline, >or=4-week treatment period, >/=20 patients per treatment arm, and >or=6 time points not spaced >5 hours apart and used Goldmann applanation or Tonopen tonometry (supine measurements) to measure intraocular pressure (IOP). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Twenty-four-hour IOP efficacy. RESULTS: This analysis included 864 separate 24-hour treatment curves from 386 patients in 28 treatment arms from 11 studies. A statistical difference in the mean diurnal pressure decrease existed between monotherapy treatments for POAG/OH patients, with bimatoprost (29%) and travoprost (27%) showing the greatest 24-hour reduction (P = 0.026). Timolol 0.5% was less effective than latanoprost (24% vs. 19% reduction) but decreased the pressure at each night time point (P = 0.0003). Dorzolamide showed a 19% 24-hour pressure reduction and brimonidine 0.2% a 14% one. In exfoliative glaucoma patients, latanoprost and travoprost showed higher baseline and treatment pressures, although the pressure reductions (29% and 31%, respectively) were greater generally than observed with POAG/OH. An evening-dosed latanoprost/timolol fixed combination reduced the pressure 33%, and the dorzolamide/timolol fixed combination (DTFC), 26%. However, the power to detect a difference for this specific comparison was probably low, due to the limited number of patients (n = 20) in the DTFC group. A statistical difference between evening-dosed (24%) and morning-dosed (18%) latanoprost (P<0.0001) was noted, but not between evening (27%) and morning (26%) travoprost (P = 0.074). The mean reduction of night time points was statistically lower than day time points for latanoprost (P = 0.031), timolol (P = 0.032), and brimonidine (P = 0.050), but not for dorzolamide. Dorzolamide (P = 0.60), travoprost (P = 0.064), and bimatoprost (P = 0.057) did not demonstrate nighttime pressures lower than daytime ones. The mean reduction of night time points was statistically lower than that of day time points for latanoprost (P = 0.031), timolol (P = 0.032), and brimonidine (P = 0.050), but not for dorzolamide (P = 0.60), bimatoprost (P = 0.057), travoprost (P = 0.064). CONCLUSIONS: Similar relative efficacies generally exist in various classes of ocular hypotensive agents during night and day hours.