Outcomes Of Glaucoma Research Articles

Mitochondrial Markers in Aging and Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma.

This review focuses on recent progress in understanding the role of mitochondrial markers in the context of mitochondrial dysfunction in glaucoma and discussing new therapeutic approaches to modulate mitochondrial function and potentially lead to improved outcomes in glaucoma.

International Study of Childhood Glaucoma

To ascertain the types of childhood glaucoma managed at major international centers, current clinical practice, and intraocular pressure (IOP) control and visual acuity (VA) outcomes. Prospective, multicenter, consecutive case series. All children with newly diagnosed glaucoma in at least 1 eye who fulfilled the Childhood Glaucoma Research Network (CGRN) definition of childhood glaucoma were recruited over a 1-year period with the aim of 18 months follow up. Demographic, clinical, management data (including complications), and outcomes (IOP and VA) were entered in a secure online database. All cases included in the outcome analysis had a minimum of 6 months follow-up. The management of childhood glaucoma, IOP control, and VA outcomes. A total of 441 children (691 eyes) with newly diagnosed glaucoma were enrolled from 17 international centers. Approximately 60% of patients came from 2 centers in India; however, 47.5% of Indian patients had no or less than 6 months of follow-up outcome data from diagnosis. Primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) was the most common diagnosis (45.4%, n= 314 eyes). There was a statistically significant association between diagnosis and ethnicity/race (P < 0.001), with PCG more frequent in nonwhite patients, glaucoma associated with acquired conditions more frequent in South Asian patients, and glaucoma after cataract surgery more frequent in white patients. The initial surgical procedure of choice for eyes with PCG significantly differed by country. Angle surgery alone was first line in centers in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Israel (Group 1), whereas combined trabeculotomy-trabeculectomy was the first-line procedure for PCG in centers in India and Ghana (Group 2). There was no significant difference in IOP control nor VA between the 2 groups. The most common diagnoses in this international study of children with newly diagnosed glaucoma in order of frequency were PCG, glaucoma after congenital idiopathic cataract surgery, and glaucoma associated with trauma. Indian children had a disproportionately high loss to follow-up rate. Despite international differences in the surgical approach to PCG, there was no statistically significant difference in IOP or VA outcomes. We hope the results of this study will inform key areas of future international, collaborative clinical research in childhood glaucoma.

Surgical outcomes following Muller Muscle-Conjunctival Resection in patients with glaucoma filtering surgery

ABSTRACT Purpose Muller muscle-conjunctiva resection (MMCR) has been often considered to be relatively contraindicated in patients with previous glaucoma surgery. We investigate the glaucoma and ptosis outcomes in patients with glaucoma filtering blebs undergoing MMCR surgery. Methods Retrospective cross-sectional case-control study at a single institution over a 15-year period on eyes of patients > 18 years of age who underwent MMCR surgery were included. Eyes were separated into 2 groups: 1) Ptosis with glaucoma filtering bleb(s) (case group); 2) Ptosis without a glaucoma filtering bleb (control group). The primary outcome measure was bleb failure. Secondary outcome measures were postoperative marginal reflex distance (MRD)1 and change in MRD1. Results 87 eyes from 80 patients met the inclusion criteria, with 29 eyes from 25 patients in the case group and 58 eyes from 55 patients in the control group. The mean (SD) length of MMCR follow-up and glaucoma follow-up after MMCR surgery were 7.3 (15.2) months and 16.4(9.3) respectively. Preoperatively, there were no significant differences between groups in terms of mean (SD) age [73 (13.2) vs 73.4 (13.1) years; p = .79] nor preoperative MRD1 [1.3 (0.2) vs. 1.4 (0.1) mm; p = .90]. There were no bleb-related complications. Three eyes (10.3%) were characterized as postoperative bleb failure. No significant differences in mean postoperative MRD1 nor mean change in MRD1 were noted (p= .34 and p = .15). Conclusions Muller muscle-conjunctiva resection (MMCR) is an apparently safe and effective tool for the management of ptosis in patients with glaucoma filtering blebs.

Beyond intraocular pressure: Optimizing patient-reported outcomes in glaucoma.

Glaucoma, an irreversible blinding condition affecting 3-4% adults aged above 40 years worldwide, is set to increase with a rapidly aging global population. Raised intraocular pressure (IOP) is a major risk factor for glaucoma where the treatment paradigm is focused on managing IOP using medications, laser, or surgery regimens. However, notwithstanding IOP and other clinical parameters, patient-reported outcomes, including daily functioning, emotional well-being, symptoms, mobility, and social life, remain the foremost concerns for people being treated for glaucoma. These outcomes are measured using objective patient-centered outcome measures (PCOMs) and subjective patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Studies using PCOMs have shown that people with glaucoma have several mobility, navigational and coordination challenges; reading and face recognition deficits; and are slower in adapting to multiple real-world situations when compared to healthy controls. Similarly, studies have consistently demonstrated, using PROMs, that glaucoma substantially and negatively impacts on peoples' self-reported visual functioning, mobility, independence, emotional well-being, self-image, and confidence in healthcare, compared to healthy individuals, particularly in those with late-stage disease undergoing a heavy treatment regimen. The patient-centred effectiveness of current glaucoma treatment paradigms is equivocal due to a lack of well-designed randomized controlled trials; short post-treatment follow-up periods; an inappropriate selection or availability of PROMs; and/or an insensitivity of currently available PROMs to monitor changes especially in patients with newly diagnosed early-stage glaucoma. We provide a comprehensive, albeit non-systematic, critique of the psychometric properties, limitations, and recent advances of currently available glaucoma-specific PCOMs and PROMs. Finally, we propose that item banking and computerized adaptive testing methods can address the multiple limitations of paper-pencil PROMs; customize their administration; and have the potential to improve healthcare outcomes for people with glaucoma.

Prevalence of Post Traumatic Amnesia after Mild Closed Traumatic Brain Injury by Galveston Orientation and Amnesia Test

Objective: We evaluated the frequency of post traumatic amnesia (PTA) in close mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) via. Galveston Orientation and Amnesia Test (GOAT).Materials &amp; Methods: A total of 115 patients with mild TBI, both male and female, aged between 14 to 60 years and presenting within the first 6 hours were included. Assessment with the GOAT was performed within 6 hours of admission. Post traumatic amnesia was recorded.Results: Patients’ mean age was 39.21 years. Majority of the patients (64.34%) were between 36- 60 years of age. Prevalence of post traumatic amnesia (PTA) in closed mild TBI was found in 27.83% patients, whereas, there was no post traumatic amnesia in 72.17% patients. Mean admission GCS was 14.54 and the mean GOAT score was 83.89 in all patients GCS 14/15. There was more prevalence of PTA in age 36-60 years, in male patients and “time since injury” in &gt;3 hours. Mean GOAT was 68.3 in patients (30.19%) with PTA with GCS 14, whereas, mean GOAT was 74.8 in patients (25.80%) with PTA with GCS 15.Conclusion: 30.19% patients with GCS 14, were positive for PTA (GOAT: 68.3). Overall, 28% patients were positive for PTA. This study concluded that prevalence of post traumatic amnesia in mild TBI is relatively high in our study as compared to other recent reports.Abbreviations: TBI: Traumatic Brain Injury. PTA: Post Traumatic Amnesia. GOAT: Galveston Orientation and Amnesia Test. GCS: Glaucoma Outcome Scale. LOC: Loss of Consciousness. CT: Computed Tomography.

Secondary glaucoma and visual outcome after paediatric cataract surgery with primary bag-in-the-lens intraocular lens.

To determine predictors of secondary glaucoma and poor visual outcome in children undergoing cataract surgery with bag-in-the-lens (BIL)-IOL implantation. Medical records were retrospectively analysed for children with primary implantation with BIL-IOL during 2009-2013. The study included 109 eyes. Median age at surgery was 2.5years (range 2weeks-14.1years), 26.6% being ≤12weeks of age (=early group). Median follow-up time was 2.8years (7months-5.8years). 15 eyes (13.8%) developed glaucoma, 14 (48.3%) in the early group and 1 (1.3%) in the late group (p<0.001). Within the early group, mean time for surgery differed significantly. Patients developing glaucoma had cataract surgery at 3.5±1.1weeks (mean±SD) and the non-glaucoma patients at 5.7±3.3weeks (p=0.024). In the entire cohort, 21 eyes (19.3%) had conditions associated with glaucoma; 57.1% of these developed glaucoma compared to 3.4% without these conditions (p<0.001). Corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) (decimal) of ≥0.5 was seen in 50 eyes (48.5%), median 0.63 in the late group and 0.15 in the early group. Glaucoma eyes in the early group (surgery at 3.5weeks) achieved 0.56 median (range, 0.4-1.0) logMAR, (0.28 decimal) CDVA, whereas non-glaucoma eyes (surgery at 5.7weeks) achieved 0.89 median (range 0.7-1.6) logMAR (0.13 decimal) CDVA; p=0.016. Glaucoma development in infants between 5weeks and 2years of age was 6.7% (n=2/30). Comorbidity strongly increases the risk of secondary glaucoma. Surgery during the first month is correlated with better CDVA outcome and glaucoma. After 5weeks of age, glaucoma rate is low with the BIL-IOL.

Selective laser trabeculoplasty versus topical medication as initial glaucoma treatment: the glaucoma initial treatment study randomised clinical trial

Background/AimsTo determine if selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is superior to topical medication as a first-line treatment for glaucoma on quality of life (QoL) and clinical outcomes.MethodsIn this international, longitudinal, multisite...

Prioritizing Outcome Preferences in Patients with Ocular Hypertension and Open-Angle Glaucoma Using Best–Worst Scaling

To quantify patients' preferences for glaucoma outcomes and use this information to prioritize outcomes that are important to patients. A cross-sectional study using best-worst scaling object case (BWS). Two hundred seventy-four participants newly diagnosed with ocular hypertension or mild to moderate open angle glaucoma from three private practices and one academic medical center in the United States. We designed a preference-elicitation survey based on findings from 25 semi-structured, qualitative interviews with patients with glaucoma (reported elsewhere). The survey asked participants to rate the importance of 13 glaucoma outcomes on a Likert scale as a warm-up exercise followed by completion of 13 BWS tasks. For each task, we presented participants a subset of four outcomes from the possible thirteen, and participants chose the most important and least important outcome. Outcomes included in the survey pertain to maintaining ability to perform vision-dependent activities of daily living (e.g., driving), maintaining visual function and perception (e.g., depth perception), minimizing need to take glaucoma drops, not experiencing ocular surface symptoms (e.g., red eyes, teary eyes), and having adequate control of intraocular pressure (IOP). We administered the survey online and analyzed response patterns using conditional logistic regression to determine the relative importance of different outcomes. Ordinal ranking of glaucoma outcomes based on preference weights. Between September 1, 2017 and February 28, 2018, we invited 1035 patients to complete our survey, among whom 274 (26%) responded. Most participants were older than 65 years of age (146/274, 53%) and currently on IOP-lowering drops (179/274, 65%). Participants identified that outcomes with the largest relative importance weight were having "adequate IOP control" and ability to "drive a car during the day," and the outcomes with the smallest relative importance weights were "maintaining appearance of the eye" and "reducing the number of IOP-lowering drops". Determining the relative importance of glaucoma outcomes to patients can help researchers design studies that may better inform clinical and regulatory decision-making. Although IOP is an outcome that researchers often measure in glaucoma clinical trials, patients also prioritized outcomes related to the ability to perform vision-dependent activities such as driving.

A Path Analysis of Effects of Patients' Underlying Conditions, Treatment Satisfaction, and Adherence on Quality of Life Among Korea Glaucoma Patients.

To determine factors contributing to an HRQOL and assess total, direct and indirect, effects that may exist between the determinants using path analysis. Data were derived from previous Korea glaucoma outcomes research. A total of 847 glaucoma outpatients with ≤2 years of eye-drop use were included in the present study. Including factors and their hypothetical pathways to an HRQOL were based on the literature review and consultation with specialists. Age, sex, comorbidities, and education levels were included as underlying conditions and treatment patterns were defined by the number of daily instillations of prescribed eye-drops. Treatment satisfaction and adherence were estimated using a Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication, which assessed side-effects, effectiveness, convenience, global satisfaction, and pill count. An HRQOL was assessed by EQ-5D and EQ-visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS). In EQ-5D analysis, male individuals showed total effects (β=0.102, P=0.0026), including both direct (β=0.076, P=0.0095) and indirect effects (β=0.0253, P=0.0020), which were mediated by treatment satisfaction in the side effects and global satisfaction categories. Higher education (β=0.197, P=0.0020) and satisfaction in the side effect (β=0.095, P=0.0076) and global satisfaction (β=0.075, P=0.0414) categories were found to have direct effects on EQ-5D. For EQ-VAS, higher education levels had significant total effects (β=0.153, P=0.0020) accounting for direct effects (β=0.131, P=0.0030) and indirect effects (β=0.0223, P=0.0531) through global satisfaction. In addition, male individuals had indirect effects (β=0.274, P=0.0165), which was indirectly mediated by satisfaction in the global satisfaction category. Comorbidity (β=-0.096, P=0.0090) and satisfaction in the effectiveness (β=0.094, P=0.0302), convenience (β=0.076, P=0.0390), and global satisfaction (β =0.144, P=0.0020) categories showed indirect effect on EQ-VAS. Higher education and better treatment satisfaction had positive effects on HRQOL both in direct and indirect ways whereas comorbidities indirectly showed negative associations with HRQOL.

Glaucoma and Cornea Surgery Outcomes in Peters Anomaly

To conduct a qualitative description of corneal and glaucoma outcomes in Peters anomaly. Retrospective case series. Children with Peters anomaly who presented between 1982-2017 were included. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), survival of corneal grafts, and success of glaucoma surgery (defined as IOP of 5-20mm Hg and no additional IOP-lowering surgery or visually devastating complications) were analyzed. Fifty-eight eyes of 37 patients (19 males) with Peters anomaly presented at 0.7 ± 1.5 years of age and had a follow-up of 10.2 ± 10.8 years. Twenty-three eyes underwent penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) with an average of 2.0 ± 1.3 grafts per eye. PKP survival at 1 year was 60% (95% confidence interval 41-75%) but decreased at 10 years to 34% (95% confidence interval 18-51%). Thirty-four eyes were diagnosed with glaucoma at 2.8 ± 6.4 years of age. Twenty eyes required glaucoma surgery, and the average number of IOP-lowering surgeries was 2.9 ± 2.0 per eye. Glaucoma drainage devices (15 eyes) had a 53% success rate. Laser cycloablation (9 eyes, transcleral or endoscopic) had a success rate of 67% with 2.0 ± 1.0 treatments per eye. Trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (8 eyes) and trabeculotomy (8 eyes) had 25% and 0% success rates, respectively. Fifteen eyes that underwent glaucoma surgery obtained IOP control, and GDD with or without cycloablation accounted for 80% of the successes. Eyes that underwent PKP did not show increased rates of glaucoma, higher IOP, or a greater necessity for IOP-lowering surgery. In Peters anomaly, PKP shows poor long-term success. In addition, >50% of eyes with Peters anomaly have secondary glaucoma that often requires multiple surgeries.

Long-term outcomes of baerveldt glaucoma implant (BGI) in management of glaucoma following congenital cataract surgery (Gf-CCS)

Glaucoma is the most common vision threatening complication following congenital cataract surgery. Previous studies have shown Glaucoma Drainage Implants (GDI) to be relatively safe in management of paediatric glaucoma including Gf-CCS. These studies have been limited by small sample size and limited follow-up. Aim of this study was to assess long-term outcomes of BGI in management of Gf-CCS.

Perioperative Anti-inflammatory Treatment in Glaucoma Surgery

Many clinical studies have demonstrated the benefit of topical anti-inflammatory medication before and after glaucoma surgery, especially for trabeculectomy, and that they improve the long term outcome. Pre- and postoperative topical steroids improve the outcome of trabeculectomy, but duration and intensity of treatment should be adapted individually. Systemic steroid or oral immunomodulation have significant impact on the outcome in uveitic glaucoma, but not in other glaucoma subtypes. Additional topical treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatories is an option in combined cataract-glaucoma surgery. Anti-inflammatory treatment after selective laser trabeculoplasty is not necessary, but relieves pain after argon laser trabeculoplasty and laser cyclophotocoagulation. Intravitreal application of steroids in glaucoma surgery must be critically evaluated and must consider the risk of a rise in secondary intraocular pressure.

A theory-driven qualitative study exploring issues relating to adherence to topical glaucoma medications.

PurposeInvestigating patients’ perceptions of their illness can provide important insights into the experience and management of the illness and associated treatment, and enhance understanding of variations in adherence to prescribed medication. The Common-Sense Model of Self-Regulation (CSM) provides a theoretical framework for the study of illness cognitions, health behavior, and adherence to health recommendations. The aim of this study was to use the CSM to investigate the experience of glaucoma and its treatment from the patients’ perspective, and to apply these insights to classify and clarify issues related to nonadherence with treatment.Patients and methodsA qualitative investigation using semi-structured interviews took place in two outpatient glaucoma clinics. Thirty-three patients with primary open-angle glaucoma using hypotensive eye drops participated in the study. Deductive content analysis was used to analyze the interview data.ResultsIssues relating to nonadherence with hypotensive eye drops and patients’ experience with their glaucoma and treatment were identified. Treatment schedule and patient factors were classified as common barriers to adherence. Further themes include experienced symptoms of glaucoma, illness coherence, and the emotional and practical consequences of the illness.ConclusionFindings provide important insights into the emotional and practical outcomes of glaucoma for patients, perceived symptoms of the illness, and insights into patient memory and cognition. These findings provide supporting evidence for the importance of conducting theoretically driven qualitative investigations of patients’ experience with glaucoma and their treatment, and provide suggestions on key issues that need to be addressed in future multidimensional interventions aimed at improving adherence and patient quality of life.

Influence of new treatment modalities on adherence in glaucoma.

It is well known that glaucoma patients are not adherent to their therapeutic regimens. The issue of nonadherence is multifactorial and includes inadequate communication between doctors and patients, resulting in significant costs associated with enhanced disease progression. Therapeutic regimens are risk factors which often influences adherence rates. Thus, alternative treatment modalities, especially those risk factors that do not rely on patients' cooperation, may enable improvements in long-term outcomes of glaucoma in patient. The studies selected for this review were divided into new medications, especially advancements in pharmaceutical approaches to treat glaucoma and new ways of delivering the medication, new surgical methods, especially minimally invasive surgery methods for glaucoma, and new studies about adherence in glaucoma. Surprisingly, a very few studies on glaucoma medication or surgery addressed the concept of adherence. However, adherence is discussed in studies which consider psychological aspects of patients or communication issues between doctors and patients. Although these studies were performed in clinical settings, the issue of adherence is not addressed; despite it has significant effect on long-term outpatient care. A combination of both aspects, adherence and miscommunication, should be considered in studies.

Long-term results of glaucoma drainage device surgery

BackgroundTo evaluate long-term results of eyes with glaucoma drainage device (GDD).MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed medical records of all patients who underwent GDD placement at our institution between 2001 and 2014. A total of 110 eyes of 90 patients were studied. Glaucoma outcome was assessed by postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), number of medications, and need for further glaucoma surgery. Surgical procedures before and during the study period, and their complications were evaluated.ResultsThe mean follow-up was 78.3 ± 44.0 months. The mean preoperative intraocular pressure was 30.8 ± 6.9 mmHg with 3.5 ± 1.1 glaucoma medications. At last postoperative follow-up, the mean IOP decreased to 14.3 ± 5.4 mmHg with 1.6 ± 1.5 glaucoma medications. GDD implantation successfully controlled glaucoma in 86, 85, 81, 78, 79, 76 and 73% of eyes at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 10 years, respectively. At last follow-up IOP was successfully controlled in 67% of eyes. Clinical complications occurred in 56.4% of eyes during the follow-up period.ConclusionsA glaucoma drainage device can successfully control intractable glaucoma even after a very long period of time.

Incidence, clinical profile, and short-term outcomes of post-traumatic glaucoma in pediatric eyes.

Purpose:To report the incidence, modes of injury, treatment, and short-term outcomes in eyes with post-traumatic elevated intraocular pressure (IOP).Methods:This was a 5-year hospital-based retrospective study of children ≤16 years who presented with open (OGI) or closed globe injury (CGI) and developed elevated IOP >21 mmHg. Those with a minimum follow up of 3 months were included. Analysis of various parameters such as influence of demographics, mode of injury, IOP, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and effect of medical and surgical treatment on IOP and BCVA was done.Results:Out of 205 pediatric eyes with ocular trauma, 121 (59%) had CGI and the remaining 84 (41%) had OGI. Thirty-two eyes (15.6%) developed elevated IOP. The incidence of elevated IOP following CGI [25 eyes (20.6%)] was significantly higher than that following OGI [7 eyes (8.3%, P = 0.02)]. Hyphema (37.5%) and lens-related mechanisms (18.75%) were the most common causes of elevated IOP. The mean IOP at the time of diagnosis was 29.8 + 6.3 mmHg and reduced to 16.2 ± 2.2 mmHg at last follow up (P < 0.001). Surgical management was required in 12 eyes (37%) and significantly more eyes with CGI required trabeculectomy (24% in CGI vs. 0% in OGI, P = 0.03). Poor baseline vision and vitreoretinal involvement [0.67 line decrement, 95% confidence interval (CI) =0.1–1.25 lines, P = 0.025] increased risk of poor visual outcome.Conclusion:Post-traumatic IOP elevation occurred in 15% pediatric eyes, was more common with CGI compared to OGI and nearly one-fourth of eyes with CGI required glaucoma filtering surgery for IOP control. Overall, medical management was needed in 63% eyes and 37% required surgical management. Visual acuity was poor in eyes with OGI due to posterior segment involvement.

Outcomes of Infantile-Onset Glaucoma Associated With Port Wine Birthmarks and Other Periocular Cutaneous Vascular Malformation.

The incidence of infantile-onset secondary glaucoma associated with periocular cutaneous vascular malformations is high and the outcomes of these glaucomatous eyes have anecdotally been poor. The purpose of this study was to determine the anatomic and visual outcomes of affected eyes. Retrospective case series. Consecutive patients with early-onset (younger than 36 months of age) glaucoma associated with cutaneous vascular malformations from 1995‒2015 were included. Seventeen eyes of 13 patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome (SW, n = 10), Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome (KTW, n = 1), cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (CMTC, n = 1), and phakomatosis pigmentovascularis (PPV, n = 1) were included. Three SW and 1 KTW patient had bilateral glaucoma. At presentation, mean age was 6.5 ± 9.1 months and mean intraocular pressure was 27.2 ± 6.13 mm Hg. The average number of surgical procedures per eye increased from 1.0 ± 0.5 (range, 0‒2) at less than 5 years' follow-up (9 eyes) to 3.5 ± 2.3 (range, 1‒7) with at least 5 years' follow-up (8 eyes). Visual acuity was better than or equal to 20/70 in 2 of 6 eyes (33%) with less than 5 years' follow-up and in 3 of 7 eyes (43%) with at least 5 years' follow-up. Additionally, a higher number of baseline risk factors correlated with poorer visual outcome. After a mean follow-up of 6.6 years, visual outcome in infantile-onset secondary glaucoma associated with cutaneous periocular vascular malformation is guarded. Increased numbers of baseline risk factors and procedures are associated with poorer vision.

Association of an Electronic Health Record–Linked Glaucoma Medical Reminder With Patient Satisfaction

While dosing reminders for glaucoma medications have been shown to increase drug adherence, an outstanding limitation preventing broad adoption is difficulty linking reminders to medication in each patient's electronic health record (EHR). To examine the feasibility of implementing an EHR-linked, automated reminder system for glaucoma medications and assess patient satisfaction with it. In this prospective, cross-sectional study, patients receiving glaucoma medications were recruited from a university-based glaucoma clinic from April 2017 to January 2018. Analysis began in February 2018. A web-based application was added to the EHR patient portal, allowing patients to configure telecommunication-based reminders for their glaucoma medications. For all potential participants, basic information was collected to determine risk of nonadherence with glaucoma medications. Those consenting to participate then answered questions on medication adherence, reminders, and their likelihood of using EHR-linked reminders. They then configured reminders using the EHR patient portal. After 3 months, they answered questions about their satisfaction with the system. Proportions of patients and high-risk patients willing to use the reminders, and patient satisfaction with the system. Of 147 patients approached, 100 (68%) agreed to participate, of whom the majority were men (54 [54%]) and white (51 [51%]), with a mean (SD) age of 65 (12.4) years. There were no differences between those willing and unwilling to participate, except for a slightly lower self-reported medication adherence rate among those who participated (mean [SD], 91% [13.6%] vs 97% [6.0%]). Based on a previously validated risk assessment score, 9% (9 of 100) of participants were categorized as being at high risk for poor adherence (≥50% probability of nonadherence) compared with 11% (5 of 47) of nonparticipants. Of 100 participants, 94 ultimately configured reminders, of whom 89 (95%) completed follow-up. On follow-up, 74% (n = 66; 95% CI, 65-83) of participants found the reminders to be useful, 15% (n = 13) were neutral, and 11% (n = 10) found them not useful. Most participants (72 [81%]; 95% CI, 77-85) had help configuring reminders. Electronic health records-linked reminders had good uptake and were well received among patients at a tertiary glaucoma clinic. These portals may represent a new and convenient method of allowing patients to link their glaucoma medications to automated reminders, although the generalizability of these results and the effect on glaucoma outcomes remains unknown.

Prediction of Surgical Outcome After Trabeculectomy for Neovascular Glaucoma With Anterior-segment Optical Coherence Tomography.

To determine the potential of anterior-segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) to predict posttrabeculectomy outcomes in neovascular glaucoma (NVG). We recruited 45 eyes of 40 NVG patients who underwent trabeculectomy. The patients were divided into success and failure groups based on the posttrabeculectomy outcome after 12 months. AS-OCT findings were compared in the success and failure groups at 1 and 2 weeks and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. We also analyzed early posttrabeculectomy bleb parameters with multiple logistic regression, stepwise multiple regression, and the receiver operating characteristic curve to evaluate the power of these parameters to predict long-term outcomes. Intraocular pressure at 6 and 12 months was lower in the success group than the failure group (P<0.0016=0.0048). Reflectivity of the bleb wall was higher in the failure group than the success group throughout the study (all: P<0.0016). Age and reflectivity of the bleb wall at 1 week were risk factors for failure with odds ratios for failure of 0.91 and 1.67. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for reflectivity of the bleb wall at 1 week was 0.943 with the cutoff set at 128.9 (sensitivity: 85.7%; specificity: 100.0%). Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that reflectivity of the bleb wall at 1 week independently indicated the bleb survival period (β=-0.84; P<0.001). AS-OCT-measured reflectivity of the bleb wall, measured at 1 week of trabeculectomy for NVG, might be able to predict of the final status of the bleb.

Early Predictors of Long-term Outcomes in Childhood Glaucoma.

A data-based staging system for childhood glaucoma is likely to improve the prediction of visual acuity and intraocular pressure (IOP) control outcomes. We investigated early clinical factors associated with poor long-term visual, and IOP control outcomes in early-onset glaucoma as the initial steps to constructing a severity staging system. Statistical modeling of retrospective case series data. Glaucoma patients younger than 3 years of age who presented to Bascom Palmer Eye Institute between 1990 and 2010 with at least 5 years of follow up. Statistical modeling of retrospective case series data from first, second, third, 3-year, 5-year, and final visits. Association of early clinical characteristics to final IOP-control outcomes and visual acuities. A total of 26 eyes of 15 children were included. Nine of 15 (60%) of patients were male. Mean age at initial presentation: 9.98±10.55 months. Mean duration between initial and final visits: 11.13±3.55 years. By the third visit (mean 6.69 mo after presentation), presence of nystagmus, anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD) or having failed angle surgery increased the final LogMAR visual acuity by 0.76 (P=0.0516), 0.64 (P=0.0618), and 0.58 (P=0.0159), respectively. At year 3, failed amblyopia therapy, failed angle surgery, nystagmus, media opacity (MO), or ASD increased the final LogMAR by 1.30, 1.34, 1.21, 0.85, 0.64, respectively (all P<0.02). Failed angle surgery or MO increased the chance of uncontrolled IOP at the final visit (proportional odds ratio of 6.77 and 12.88, respectively). In this pilot study of a modest size cohort, the presence of nystagmus, ASD or failed angle surgery early in the course of infantile-onset glaucoma management predicted poor final visual outcome, whereas failed angle surgery and presence of MO predicted poor final IOP control. These predictors of poor outcomes will serve as the initial steps in constructing a severity staging system.