Eye Drop Adherence With an Eye Drop Bottle Cap Monitor.

PRCIS: An eye drop bottle cap monitor with audio and visual alarms measured eye drop adherence in 50 subjects with glaucoma. Baseline adherence rates were too high to test if the alarms could improve adherence. PURPOSE: To determine if an eye drop bottle cap monitor can measure and improve adherence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Devers Drop Device (D3, Universal Adherence LLC) was designed to measure eye drop adherence by detecting bottle cap removal and replacement, and it can provide text, visual and audio alerts when a medication is due. In Stage 1, we determined baseline adherence for 50 subjects using a nightly eye drop over a 25-day period. Subjects with less than 90% baseline adherence were eligible for Stage 2. In Stage 2, we randomized subjects to receive either no reminder or automated D3 alerts for their nightly eye drop over a subsequent 25-day period. We defined adherence as the proportion of drops administered within 3 hours of the subjects' scheduled dosing time. Subjects completed 3 questions regarding satisfaction with the device and willingness to pay. RESULTS: The D3 monitor remained attached to the eye drop bottle cap for the duration of the study and collected adherence data in all 50 patients. In Stage 1, the mean adherence rate was 90 ± 18% (range 32-100%). Forty (80%) subjects had an adherence rate greater than 90%. Adherence rates were too high in Stage 1 to adequately test the effects of reminders in Stage 2. Ninety-eight percent (49/50) and 96% (48/50) of subjects agreed "the device always stayed attached to the bottle cap" and "I was able to use the device to take the drops", respectively. Patients would pay $61±83 (range $0-400) for a similar device to improve adherence. CONCLUSIONS: The D3 can measure eye drop adherence. Research subjects reported high satisfaction and willingness to pay for an eye drop bottle cap monitor. Glaucoma patients have high adherence when they are being monitored, and future studies with research subjects screened for poor adherence may further determine the benefit of electronic monitoring of adherence with and without electronic reminders.

Measurements of OCT Angiography Complement OCT for Diagnosing Early Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To compare measurements of global and regional circumpapillary capillary density (cpCD) with retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and characterize their relationship with visual function in early primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty healthy eyes, 64 preperimetric eyes, and 184 mild POAG eyes from the Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study. METHODS: Global and regional RNFL thickness and cpCD measurements were obtained using OCT and OCT angiography (OCTA). For direct comparison at the individual and diagnostic group level, RNFL thickness and capillary density values were converted to a normalized relative loss scale. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and cpCD normalized loss at the individual level and diagnostic group. Global and regional areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for RNFL thickness and cpCD to detect preperimetric glaucoma and glaucoma, R2 for the strength of associations between RNFL thickness function and capillary density function in diagnostic groups. RESULTS: Both global and regional RNFL thickness and cpCD decreased progressively with increasing glaucoma severity (P < 0.05, except for temporal RNFL thickness). Global and regional cpCD relative loss values were higher than those of RNFL thickness (P < 0.05) in preperimetric glaucoma (except for the superonasal region) and glaucoma (except for the inferonasal and superonasal regions) eyes. Race, intraocular pressure (IOP), and cpCD were associated with greater cpCD than RNFL thickness loss in early glaucoma at the individual level (P < 0.05). Global measurements of capillary density (whole image capillary density and cpCD) had higher diagnostic accuracies than RNFL thickness in detecting preperimetric glaucoma and glaucoma (P < 0.05; except for cpCD/RNFL thickness comparison in glaucoma [P = 0.059]). Visual function was significantly associated with RNFL thickness and cpCD globally and in all regions (P < 0.05, except for temporal RNFL thickness-function association [P = 0.070]). CONCLUSIONS: Associations between capillary density and visual function were found in the regions known to be at highest risk for damage in preperimetric glaucoma eyes and all regions of mild glaucoma eyes. In early glaucoma, capillary density loss was more pronounced than RNFL thickness loss. Individual characteristics influence the relative magnitudes of capillary density loss compared with RNFL thickness loss. Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and microvascular assessments are complementary and yield valuable information for the detection of early damages seen in POAG.

Optic nerve head vessel density in different stages of pseudoexfoliation disease.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the superficial vascular density of the optic nerve head in different stages of pseudoexfoliation disease using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 57 normal eyes, 41 eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXS), 82 eyes with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG) and 27 non-glaucomatous fellow eyes of PXG (NL-PXG) that had OCTA were included. Circumpapillary RNFL (cpRNFL) thickness and circumpapillary capillary density (cpCD) were compared among the groups after adjusting for confounders using linear-mixed model. RESULTS: PXG eyes had thinner global RNFL and lower cpCD (74.2±14.3 µm and 36.7±10.0%) than control (103.3±8.6 µm and 52.5±2.3%), PXS (96.8±8.8 µm and 51.5±2.3%), and NL-PXG eyes (96.3±11.1 µm and 50.1±3.9%) (p<0.001). After adjustment for age, gender and signal strength index, global cpRNFL thickness was comparable among control, PXS and NL-PXG. NL-PXG had the lowest cpCD (p=0.045) and sectoral cpCD compared to PXS and control eyes. Although cpCD was comparable between control and PXS (p=0.425) eyes, sectoral differences (p=0.009 and 0.004, for inferonasal and temporal-inferior cpCD, respectively) were detectable between the two groups. AUROC for differentiating NL-PXG eyes from normal were better for cpCD (0.78) compared to cpRNLF (0.69). CONCLUSIONS: OCTA can detect reduced capillary density before significant changes in cpRNFL in fellow eyes of PXG patients. This can enable earlier detection of glaucomatous loss in pseudoexfoliation disease and enhance management of the disease.

Changes in Corneal Biomechanics and Glaucomatous Visual Field Loss.

PRECIS: A lower baseline corneal hysteresis and a decrease in corneal resistance factor (CRF) over time are associated with higher risk of visual field progression in glaucomatous and glaucoma suspect eyes. PURPOSE: The aim was to investigate the longitudinal change in CRF and cornea hysteresis (CH) as risk factors for visual field progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective observational cohort study, 72 eyes of 48 glaucoma or glaucoma suspect patients were followed for an average of 4.5 years. Baseline and follow-up CH and CRF measurements were performed with the Ocular Response Analyzer (Reichert Ophthalmic Instruments Inc., Depew, N.Y.). Evaluation of rates of visual field change during follow-up was performed using visual field mean deviation. Univariable and multivariable linear mixed models assessed the relationship of visual field progression with baseline CRF and CH as well as with changes in CRF and CH. RESULTS: The mean baseline CH was 9.0 (95% confidence interval: 8.6-9.4) mm Hg and the mean baseline CRF was 9.3 (95% confidence interval: 8.8-9.9) mm Hg. There was no statistically significant difference in average CH and CRF measurements over time. In multivariable modeling adjusting for age, race, and mean intraocular pressure during follow-up, each 1 mm Hg lower in baseline CH and 1 mm Hg decrease in CRF over time were associated with a 0.12 (P=0.042) and 0.14 dB/year (P=0.007) faster rate of visual field mean deviation loss, respectively. Similar findings were found in glaucoma eyes but not found in glaucoma suspect eyes. CONCLUSION: Visual field progression was associated with a lower baseline CH and a decrease in CRF over time. Assessment of corneal resistance and elasticity at baseline and during follow-up examinations should be considered to identify those eyes at highest risk of visual field progression.

Pseudophakic glaucoma and angle closure in a patient with an anterior chamber intraocular lens.

PURPOSE: To report use of ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) and anterior segment ocular coherence tomography (AS-OCT) in a case of pseudophakic glaucoma in a patient with an anterior chamber intraocular lens. OBSERVATIONS: UBM and AS-OCT were critical in determining a non-drug related etiology of angle closure. Images indicated anterior obstruction of the pupil secondary to anterior chamber intraocular lens, but also posterior obstruction of the pupil secondary to the anterior hyaloid face. CONCLUSIONS: When evaluating a patient with suspected angle closure, it is important to perform a full ophthalmologic examination, including gonioscopy, as well as a thorough review of past medical history and medications so as not to miss systemic-related etiologies. Imaging with B-scan, UBM, and, more recently in the last decade, AS-OCT is a key component of evaluation of a patient in angle closure, especially one with a complex medical and ocular history.

Lens anatomy parameters with intraoperative spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in cataractous eyes.

PURPOSE: To study correlations of crystalline lens anatomy and position parameters obtained using intraoperative spectral-domain (SD) optical coherence tomography (OCT) in cataract patients. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated biometry data from 600 eyes of 399 cataract patients (mean age: 69±8.4 years) using intraoperative anterior segment SD-OCT during femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery. Lens anatomy and position parameters (anterior chamber depth [ACD] - center of the anterior cornea to the anterior lens capsule, lens thickness [LT] - distance between anterior and posterior lens capsules, and lens meridian position [LMP] - distance from center of the anterior cornea to intersection of the anterior and posterior lens) obtained with intraoperative SD-OCT, were correlated among themselves and with noncontact axial length (AL). Equatorial plane position (EPP) (distance between the plane of the lens equator and anterior capsule) was also studied. Pearson's coefficients (r-values) were determined for all correlation pairs. RESULTS: There was a moderate correlation between AL and ACD (r=0.451; P<0.001). LMP was found to correlate strongly with ACD (r=0.77; P<0.001) but very weakly with AL (r=0.089; P=0.04). There was a moderately strong inverse correlation between LT and ACD (r=-0.586; P<0.001) but the correlation between LT and AL and LT and LMP was found to be weak (r=-0.155; P<0.001 and r=-0.121, P=0.003, respectively). Correlation of the ratio of EPP/LT and LT was weakly positive (r=0.267; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: LMP correlated strongly with ACD but only minimally with AL. LT correlated fairly strongly with ACD but only minimally with LMP. This should stimulate additional research into the relationships among ocular and crystalline lens anatomy and IOL position after cataract surgery.