Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty as a Substitute for Medications in Patients with Mild-to-moderate Glaucoma in the Brazilian Public Health System.

PRCIS: Selective laser trabeculoplasty can be used as a substitute for medications in patients with mild-to-moderate glaucoma, reducing the cost of eye drop distribution in the Brazilian public health system. PURPOSE: To observe the effectiveness of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) as a substitute for eye drops in patients with open angle glaucoma in the Brazilian Public Health System. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SLT was performed bilaterally after medication washout. This is a prospective interventional study comparing intraocular pressure (IOP) when using eye drops at baseline (post-washout), and at 12-month follow-up after SLT. Medication was added if the target IOP was not achieved, following the Brazilian Public Health System eye drops protocol, based on medication costs. Absolute (without eye drops) and qualified (with eye drops) success were measured with IOP ≤ 21, IOP ≤ 18, IOP ≤ 15 and IOP ≤ 12 mm Hg. Besides IOP evolution, the ability to reduce IOP (in %), and eye drops reduction were evaluated. RESULTS: Ninety-two eyes of 46 patients were included, 70 eyes with mild glaucoma and 22 with moderate glaucoma; the mean number of eye drops was 2.26±1.06 (82.6% were using a prostaglandin analogue), and post-washout IOP of 21.10±5.24 mm Hg. There was relative success at IOP ≤18 mm Hg, where the mild group had greater success than the moderate group (88.1% vs. 71.4%, P =0.824). The average IOP reductions were 23.04% and 25.74% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. The average number of eye drops was 1.02, with 1.1% using a prostaglandin analogue. Furthermore, 68.19% of the patients had a decrease in the quantity of eye drops used. CONCLUSION: SLT is effective in reducing IOP and replacing eye drops in patients in the Brazilian Public Health System. Moreover, there was a significant reduction in the use of prostaglandin analogues.

The influence of topical anesthetic and fluorescein on non-contact tonometry measurements using ultra-high-speed dynamic Scheimpflug.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of topical anesthetic and fluorescein drops on intraocular pressure (IOP), central corneal thickness (CCT) and biomechanical properties as measured by Corvis ST (CST-Oculus; Wezlar, Germany) in healthy eyes. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 46 healthy patients. The CST measurements were obtained before and immediately after the instillation of topical anesthetic and fluorescein drops. Pre-post instillation data were statistically analyzed. IOP measurements were compared to Goldmann's Applanation Tonometry (GAT), which was also performed after drops instillation. Biomechanical parameters analyzed included applanation 1 velocity, applanation 2 velocity, applanation 1 time, applanation 2 time, whole eye movement, deflection amplitude, and stiffness parameter at first applanation. A statistically significant difference in IOP, both for non-corrected IOP (IOPnct) and biomechanically corrected IOP (bIOP), was observed before and after the instillation of eyedrops. Despite this statistical significance, the observed difference lacked clinical relevance. The IOPnct demonstrated a significant difference pre and post-anesthetic and fluorescein instillation compared to GAT (14.99 ± 2.27 mmHg pre-instillation and 14.62 ± 2.50 mmHg post-instillation, versus 13.98 ± 2.04 mmHg, with p-values of 0.0014 and 0.0490, respectively). Comparable findings were noted when justaposing bIOP to GAT (14.53 ± 2.10 mmHg pre-instillation and 13.15 ± 2.25 mmHg post-instillation, against 13.98 ± 2.04 mmHg, with p-values of 0.0391 and 0.0022, respectively). Additionally, CCT measurements revealed a statistically significant elevation following the administration of topical anesthetic and fluorescein drops (from 544.64 ± 39.85 µm to 586.74 ± 41.71 µm, p < 0.01. None of the analyzed biomechanical parameters showed statistically significant differences after drops instillation. While the administration of topical anesthetic and fluorescein drops induced a statistically significant alteration in both IOPnct and bIOP readings, these changes were not clinically consequential. Furthermore, a notable statistical rise was observed in CCT measurements post-drops instillation, as determined by CST. Yet, corneal biomechanical parameters remained unaffected.

Peak Intraocular Pressure Time during Water Drinking Test and Its Relationship with Glaucoma Severity.

PURPOSE: To investigate the association between the time of occurrence of intraocular pressure (IOP) peaks during the water-drinking test (WDT) and visual field damage in a cohort of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients. METHODS: In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, 98 eyes from 49 consecutive POAG patients were followed in a referral clinical practice. The relationship between the time when IOP peaks occurred during the WDT and the visual field mean deviation (MD) assessed with 24-2 visual field was tested with mixed-effects models. RESULTS: MD value was significantly associated with the time of IOP peak occurrence (P = 0.020) when adjusting for the number of medications, but not with the IOP peak values (P = 0.238). CONCLUSION: The time of IOP peaks occurrence during the WDT was associated with glaucoma severity among treated POAG patients.

Predictive Value of the Water Drinking Test and the Risk of Glaucomatous Visual Field Progression.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this is to test the hypothesis the intraocular pressure (IOP) peaks during a stress test [the water drinking test (WDT)] can estimate the risk of future visual field progression in treated primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Design: Prospective, longitudinal study. SETTING: Clinical practice. STUDY POPULATION: Treated POAG patients whose IOP was ≤18 mm Hg and who had no IOP-lowering interventions between the date of the WDT and the last eligible visual field. INTERVENTION: At baseline examination, patients underwent the WDT and were then followed at regular intervals with office-based IOP measurements and visual field testing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Cox-proportional hazards survival analysis testing the predictive value of IOP peaks during the WDT versus IOP measurements during office hours on visual field progression. RESULTS: A total of 144 eyes of 96 patients with baseline visual field damage ranging from mild to severe followed for a mean of 28 months were analyzed. In the multivariable analysis adjusting for potential confounders, higher IOP peaks during the WDT were predictive of future visual field progression (hazard ratio=1.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.02 to 1.21; P=0.013). The average and peak IOP during office hours over the same follow-up period were not significantly associated with progression (P=0.651 and 0.569, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: IOP peaks detected with the WDT were predictive of future visual field progression in a treated POAG population. This stress test could be a useful tool for risk assessment in daily practice.

Hypotrichosis with juvenile macular dystrophy: a case report with molecular study.

Hypotrichosis with juvenile macular dystrophy is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by sparse scalp hair caused by hair follicle abnormalities as well as progressive retinal degeneration leading to blindness in the second or third decade of life. It is associated with mutations of the cadherin 3 (CDH3) gene, which result in abnormal expression of P-cadherin. Mutations in CDH3 are related to ectodermal dysplasia, ectrodactyly, and macular dystrophy. In this report, we describe an 11-year-old Iranian boy born with a missing left index fingernail and sparse scalp hair who later displayed macular pigmentary changes. Genetic testing of the CDH3 gene revealed a homozygous gene variant at exon 6 (640A>T). This novel in-frame mutation converts a lysine to a premature stop codon, altering synthesis of P-cadherin on chromosome 16q22.

Applications of the water drinking test in glaucoma management.

Intraocular pressure (IOP) peaks and means have been considered important factors for glaucoma onset and progression. However, peak IOP detection depends only on appropriated IOP checks at office visits, whereas the mean IOP requires longitudinal IOP data collection and may be affected by the interval between visits. Also, IOP peak assessment is necessary to verify if the peak pressure of a given patient is in target range, to evaluate glaucoma suspect risk, the efficacy of hypotensive drugs and to detect early loss of IOP control. The water-drinking test has gained significant attention in recent years as an important tool to evaluate IOP peaks and instability. The main objective of this review was to present new findings and to discuss the applicability of the water-drinking test in glaucoma management.

Choroidal thickness variation in highly myopic eyes during the water drinking test.

PURPOSE: To evaluate variations in choroidal thickness (CT) during the water drinking test (WDT) in emmetropic eyes (EE) and highly myopic eyes (ME) using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS: Clinical trial performed at a tertiary care hospital comprising 30 randomly selected eyes. The WDT and SD-OCT macular scans were performed 10 and 45 min after water ingestion in 15 myopic and 15 EE of 15 healthy patients in each group. Primary study outcomes were average macular CT measured by SD-OCT and intraocular pressure (IOP) during the WDT. RESULTS: The mean spherical equivalent refraction was 0.15 ± 0.24 D in emmetropic and -7.1 ± 1.75 D in ME (p<0.001). No statistical differences between EE and ME were observed during the WDT response. EE had higher CT compared with ME at the fovea (361.4 ± 55.4 vs 257.9 ± 95.3; p<0.001), 3 mm nasal to the fovea (158.0 ± 71.8 vs 122.5 ± 54.5; p =0.047), and 3 mm temporally to the fovea (310.6 ± 52.4 vs 247.6 ± 90.1; p=0.05). Regarding CT variation, significant differences in foveal CT at 10 min after water ingestion were observed in both EE and ME, with no statistically significant difference observed between groups. A moderate correlation between IOP peak during the WDT and CT was demonstrated in ME (r=0.52; p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant differences in CT variation during the WDT were observed between EE and ME, indicating similar behavior of the choroidal bed during the WDT in both groups. Further, CT was thinner in highly ME, with CT variation unable to explain elevations in IOP observed during the WDT.

Comparison of the Intraocular Pressure Variation Provoked by Postural Change and by the Water Drinking Test in Primary Open-angle Glaucoma and Normal Patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the intraocular pressure (IOP) peak and variability detected by moving the body from sitting to supine position (postural test) and by the water drinking test (WDT) in normal and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) subjects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective, cross-sectional observational analysis of 14 eyes of 14 normal subjects and 31 eyes of 31 patients with POAG. All POAG subjects were under clinical therapy. IOP measurements were all performed on the same day. RESULTS: When the subjects moved to the supine position, there was an IOP increase of 1.36±1.34 and 2.84±2.21 mm Hg in the normal and POAG groups, respectively (P=0.011). During the WDT, mean IOP peak and fluctuation in the POAG group was 19.29±4.10 and 4.13±2.33 mm Hg, respectively. These levels were significantly higher in comparison with the normal group (16.50±3.76 and 2.71±0.99 mm Hg; P=0.018 and 0.022, respectively). The mean peak IOP observed in the WDT was significantly higher than the IOP in the supine position (19.29±4.10 vs. 17.32±4.66 mm Hg, P=0.013). The mean IOP increase during the WDT was also significantly higher when compared with the postural test (4.13±2.33 vs. 2.84±2.21 mm Hg, P=0.019). CONCLUSIONS: POAG eyes demonstrated a significant IOP increase when assuming the supine position and during the WDT. The IOP increase during the WDT was significantly higher than the IOP increase after postural test. Hence, the results of both tests are not interchangeable.

Reproducibility of the water drinking test in treated glaucomatous patients.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the reproducibility of intraocular pressure peaks and fluctuation elicited during the water drinking test in treated glaucomatous patients with a long follow-up interval. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study in a tertiary care practice. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-four treated primary open-angle glaucoma patients. METHODS: All patients underwent the water drinking test performed in two consecutive visits without any change in the therapeutic regimen. The mean interval between tests was 4.85 (range: 3-6) months. Reproducibility of peak and fluctuation during the water drinking test was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients. Bland-Altman analysis was used to assess the agreement of intraocular pressure peaks and fluctuation measured between two consecutive tests. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intraclass correlation and agreement of intraocular pressure peaks and fluctuation between visits. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline intraocular pressure values (mean ± standard deviation, 11.73 ± 2.36 and 11.61 ± 2.71 mmHg; P = 0.72) and peaks (14.55 ± 3.41 and 15.02 ± 3.66 mmHg, respectively; P = 0.163) detected during the water drinking test between the first and second visits. There was also no significant difference between the average intraocular pressure fluctuation values (2.82 ± 1.99 and 3.41 ± 2.54 mmHg, respectively; P = 0.135). Intraocular pressure peaks and fluctuation presented intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.85 (P < 0.001) and 0.50 (P < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate excellent reproducibility of intraocular pressure peaks during the water drinking test. Intraocular pressure fluctuation did not reveal good reproducibility, though. These results emphasize the applicability of this test to assess treatment efficacy in daily practice and interventional studies.

Nd:YAG laser goniopuncture for late bleb failure after trabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C.

IMPORTANCE: There is an increasing need to prolong trabeculectomy success rates with minimally invasive procedures. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety and efficacy of Nd:YAG laser goniopuncture (LGP) in lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) in eyes having late bleb failure following trabeculectomy with mitomycin C administration. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Prospective, noncomparative, interventional cohort at a referral glaucoma practice, including 19 eyes of 19 patients with uncontrolled glaucoma after failed trabeculectomy. INTERVENTIONS: All eyes had ischemic nonfunctioning blebs with patent internal ostia and underwent Nd:YAG LGP, followed by a 5-fluorouracil injection. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The IOP and the number of antiglaucoma medications before and after the procedure, as well as presurgical and postsurgical appearance of the blebs, using the Indiana Bleb Appearance Grading Scale classification. RESULTS: The mean (SD) time of LGP after trabeculectomy was 35.7 (32.3) months, and the mean (SD) follow-up period after LGP was 6.0 (1.1) months (range, 4.4-8.4 months). The mean (SD) IOP had decreased from 20.9 (4.5) mm Hg (range, 15.5-29.0 mm Hg) to 11.9 (4.1) mm Hg (range, 5.0-21.0 mm Hg) (P < .001). The only complications observed after LGP were 2 cases of hypotony, which resolved spontaneously. Compared with baseline Indiana Bleb Appearance Grading Scale classifications, 2 eyes showed an increase in bleb height and 10 eyes showed an increase in bleb extension. None of the eyes had a positive Seidel test result. The mean (SD) number of hypotensive agents per eye had decreased from 0.7 (1.1) to 0.3 (0.7) after the procedure. At the last follow-up visit, 15 eyes (79%) had achieved an IOP of 15 mm Hg or less, with a minimum IOP reduction of 20% from baseline without medication use. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The Nd:YAG LGP is a safe and effective procedure for lowering IOP in eyes with ischemic nonfunctioning blebs and patent trabeculectomy ostia. This is a promising solution to rescue failed trabeculectomies and can potentially prolong trabeculectomy success rates.

Early transconjunctival needling revision with 5-fluorouracil versus medical treatment in encapsulated blebs: a 12-month prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of transconjunctival needling revision with 5-fluorouracil versus medical treatment in glaucomatous eyes with uncontrolled intraocular pressure due to encapsulated bleb after trabeculectomy. METHODS: Prospective, randomized, interventional study. A total of 40 eyes in 39 patients with elevated intraocular pressure and encapsulated blebs diagnosed at a maximum five months after primary trabeculectomy with mitomycin C were included. The eyes were randomized to either transconjunctival needling revision with 5- fluorouracil or medical treatment (hypotensive eyedrops). A maximum of two transconjunctival needling revisions per patient was allowed in the needling arm. All patients underwent follow-up for 12 months. Successful treatment was defined as an intraocular pressure ≤ 18 mmHg and a 20% reduction from baseline at the final follow-up. Clinicaltrial.gov: NCT01887223. RESULTS: Mean intraocular pressure at the final 12-month follow-up was lower in the transconjunctival needling revision group compared to the medical treatment group. Similar numbers of eyes reached the criteria for treatment success in both the transconjunctival needling revision group and the medical treatment group. CONCLUSIONS: Despite similar success rates in eyes randomized to transconjunctival needling revision with 5-fluorouracil compared to eyes receiving medical treatment, there was a significantly lower mean intraocular pressure at 12 months after transconjunctival needling revision.

Reproducibility of the mean, fluctuation, and IOP peak in the diurnal tension curve.

PURPOSE: To verify the reproducibility of the mean, peak, and fluctuation of intraocular pressure (IOP) observed during modified diurnal tension curves (mDTC) performed on ocular hypertensive and primary open-angle glaucoma patients. METHODS: Prospective analysis of 88 eyes from 88 ocular hypertensive and primary open-angle glaucoma patients subjected to 2 consecutive mDTCs (IOP measurements obtained at 8:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 4:00 PM) on 2 consecutive days. Mean IOP was calculated as the average of all IOP measurements obtained during each mDTC. Peak and minimum IOP levels were considered as the highest and lowest IOP level during each mDTC, respectively. IOP fluctuation was calculated using 2 different approaches: the difference between IOP peak and minimum IOP detected during each mDTC and as the SD of all mDTC measurements. Reproducibility was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). RESULTS: IOP fluctuation between 2 days in the modified diurnal curve, calculated as the difference between peak IOP and minimum IOP and as the SD of all mDTC measurements, was less reproducible than the mean IOP and peak IOP (ICC values 0.60, 0.62, 0.91, and 0.85, respectively; all ICC values, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Mean IOP and peak IOP observed during the mDTC had good reproducibility, whereas the reproducibility of IOP fluctuation was only fair.

Reproducibility of intraocular pressure peak and fluctuation of the water-drinking test.

BACKGROUND: The water-drinking test has been used as a stress test to evaluate the drainage system of the eye. However, in order to be clinically applicable,a test must provide reproducible results with consistent measurements. This study was performed to verify the reproducibility of intraocular pressure peaks and fluctuation detected during the water-drinking test in patients with ocular hypertension and open-angle glaucoma. DESIGN: A prospective analysis of patients in a tertiary care unit for glaucoma treatment. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-four ocular hypertension and 64 open-angle glaucoma patients not under treatment. METHODS: The water-drinking test was performed in 2 consecutive days by the same examiners in patients not under treatment. Reproducibility was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Peak and fluctuation of intraocular pressure obtained with the water-drinking test were analysed for reproducibility. RESULTS: Eighty-eight eyes from 24 ocular hypertension and 64 open-angle glaucoma patients not under treatment were evaluated. Test and retest intraocular pressure peak values were 28.38 ± 4.64 and 28.38 ± 4.56 mmHg, respectively (P = 1.00). Test and retest intraocular pressure fluctuation values were 5.75 ± 3.9 and 4.99 ± 2.7 mmHg, respectively (P = 0.06). Based on intraclass coefficient, reproducibility was excellent for peak intraocular pressure (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.79) and fair for intraocular pressure fluctuation (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.37). CONCLUSION: Intraocular pressure peaks detected during the water-drinking test presented excellent reproducibility, whereas the reproducibility of fluctuation was considered fair.

RAND-like appropriateness methodology consensus for primary open-angle glaucoma in Latin America.

PURPOSE: To report the results of a Latin American consensus panel regarding the diagnosis and management of primary open-angle glaucoma and to compare these results with those from a similar panel in the United States. DESIGN: A RAND-like (Research and Development) appropriateness methodology was used to assess glaucoma practice in Latin America. METHODS: The 148 polling statements created for the RAND- like analysis in the United States and 10 additional statements specific to glaucoma care in Latin America were presented to a panel of Latin American glaucoma experts. Panelists were polled in private using the RAND- like methodology before and after the panel meeting. RESULTS: Consensus agreement or disagreement among Latin American experts was reached for 51.3% of statements before the meeting and increased to 66.5% in the private, anonymous meeting after polling (79.0% agreement, 21.0% disagreement). Although there was a high degree of concordance (111 of 148 statements; 75%) between the results of this Latin American panel and the United States panel, there were some notable exceptions relating to diagnostic and therapeutic decision making. CONCLUSIONS: This RAND-like consensus methodology provides a perspective of how Latin American glaucoma practitioners view many aspects of glaucoma and compares these results with those obtained using a similar methodology from practitioners in the United States. These findings may be helpful to ophthalmologists providing glaucoma care in Latin America and in other regions of the world.

Additive intraocular pressure reduction effect of fixed combination of maleate timolol 0.5%/dorzolamide 2% (Cosopt) on monotherapy with latanoprost (Xalatan) in patients with elevated intraocular pressure: a prospective, 4-week, open-label, randomized, controlled clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the additive effect of dorzolamide/timolol fixed combination in patients under monotherapy with latanoprost. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this prospective, 4-week, randomized, open-label controlled clinical trial, patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, which presented at least 15% intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction after a minimum period of 15 days of monotherapy with latanoprost and whose IOP level was considered above the established target-IOP level were randomized to receive fixed combination of timolol/dorzolamide twice daily in one of eyes. The fellow eye was kept under monotherapy and was included in the control group. A modified diurnal tension curve (mDTC) followed by the water drinking test were performed in the baseline and week 4 visits to evaluate IOP profile between groups. RESULTS: Forty-nine per-protocol patients were analyzed. After latanoprost monotherapy run-in period, IOP levels were significantly reduced (P<0.001) in both control and study groups to 15.34+/-2.96 mm Hg and 15.24+/-2.84 mm Hg (30.8% and 32.2% IOP reduction, respectively; P=0.552). At week 4, mean baseline diurnal IOP levels were 15.60+/-3.09 and 14.44+/-3.03 (7.4% difference; P=0.01). Mean baseline IOP modified diurnal tension curve peak after latanoprost run-in period were 17.47+/-3.68 mm Hg and 17.02+/-3.35 mm Hg (control and study eyes, respectively; P=0.530). At week 4 visit, mean water-drinking test peaks were significantly reduced in the study eye group in comparison with the control group: 19.02+/-3.81 mm Hg and 20.39+/-4.19 mm Hg, respectively (6.7% reduction; P=0.039). CONCLUSIONS: In our sample, dorzolamide 2%/timolol 0.5% fixed combination as add-on therapy in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension under monotherapy with latanoprost with IOP already in mid-teens levels may further enhance pressure reduction.

A comparison of bimatoprost 0.03% versus the fixed-combination of latanoprost 0.005% and timolol 0.5% in adult patients with elevated intraocular pressure: an eight-week, randomized, open-label trial.

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE: Bimatoprost and the fixed combination of latanoprost with timolol maleate are 2 medications widely used to treat glaucoma and ocular hypertension (OHT). The aim of the study is to compare the efficacy of these 2 drugs in reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) after 8 weeks of treatment in patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) or OHT. METHODS: In this randomized, open-label trial, 44 patients with POAG or OHT were allocated to receive either bimatoprost (1 drop QD) or latanoprost/timolol (1 drop QD). Primary outcome was the mean diurnal IOP measurement at the 8th week, calculated as the mean IOP measurements taken at 8:00 am, 10:00 am, and 12:00 pm Secondary outcomes included the baseline change in IOP measured 3 times a day, after the water-drinking test (performed after the last IOP measurement), and the assessment of side effects of each therapy. RESULTS: The mean IOP levels of latanoprost/timolol (13.83, SD = 2.54) was significantly lower than of bimatoprost (16.16, SD = 3.28; P < 0.0001) at week 8. Also, the change in mean IOP values was significantly higher in the latanoprost/timolol group at 10:00 am (P = 0.013) and 12:00 pm (P = 0.01), but not at 8:00 am (P = ns). During the water-drinking test, there was no significant difference in IOP increase (absolute and percentage) between groups; however, there was a significant decrease in mean heart rate in the latanoprost/timolol group. Finally, no significant changes in blood pressure and lung spirometry were observed in either groups. CONCLUSIONS: The fixed combination of latanoprost/timolol was significantly superior to bimatoprost alone in reducing IOP in patients with POAG or OHT. Further studies with large sample sizes should be taken to support the superior efficacy of latanoprost/timolol, as well as to better assess its profile of side effects.

Staging glaucoma patient: why and how?

Staging glaucomatous damage into appropriatecategories enhances management of the disease. Automated static perimetry is the benchmark for testing visual function in glaucoma. Numerous examples of standard automated perimetry staging systems have been proposed but difficulties such as lack of accuracy, absence of information related to location and depth of the defect(s) and need of time-consuming analysis of every visual field test result may reduce their day-to-day clinical usefulness.A new visual field staging system is proposed: the University of São Paulo Glaucoma Visual Field Staging System (USP-GVFSS). In this system, qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the visual field defect are described. The method is intuitive, comprehensible and describes severity, extension and hemi field involvement.

Unpredictability of glaucoma progression.

BACKGROUND: Glaucoma is a chronic, progressive ocular neuropathy that leads to the loss of retinal ganglion cells and varying degrees of visual impairment or blindness. MANAGEMENT: There are three major factors to consider in the management of patients with glaucoma. First, extensive damage to retinal ganglion cells often can occur before the appearance of any functional deficits is detected by perimetry. Second, the rate of glaucoma progression varies considerably among different patients and even for the same patient at different times. Third, the lack of correspondence between structural and functional change may reflect the limitations of current assays in measuring each. Given the variability of disease progression, early detection and continued vigilance of both structure and function in the form of regular patient monitoring are essential. CONCLUSION: This review presents six case histories that demonstrate the differing rates of progression that may be observed in the clinic and the importance of early detection and treatment in controlling the disease. In addition, major lessons from randomised clinical trials are summarised, including the likelihood of progression from diagnosed ocular hypertension to the development of glaucoma, the risks of progression of established glaucoma and the effectiveness of therapy.