Glaucoma

Prostaglandin analogues preserved with benzalkonium chloride (BAK) can cause more extensive loss of goblet cells and a breakdown of cell-cell adhesions, which could increase the risk of ocular surface disease, according to findings from a pair of studies conducted in rabbits.

It has long been noticed that one side effect of the glaucoma drug Lumigan (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution; Allergan) is increased eyelash growth, however, nobody could have predicted that cosmetic companies would start using small quantities of prostaglandins in products specifically designed for the "beauty" market.

Treatment with bimatoprost (Lumigan; Allergan) alone is as effective at lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) as a fixed combination of latanoprost and timolol.

NicOx and Pfizer have initiated a dose-ranging Phase II clinical study of PF-03187207, a treatment for glaucoma, in Japan.

SLT presents a safe and efficacious treatment option for pseudoexfoliative glaucoma patients.

A look back at what has happened in the field of glaucoma in 2007 and what we can look forward to in 2008.

With additional training, optometrists are at least as accurate as junior ophthalmologists in diagnosing glaucoma.

The FDA has approved Allergan's Combigan for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

A study in the September/October issue of the European Journal of Ophthalmology has shown that the silicone plate Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) results in lower intraocular pressure (IOP) compared with the older polypropylene plate AGV.

A conference, which was set up in response to the recent report by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) dismissing the importance of glaucoma screening, has recommended a re-evaluation of the findings.

Secondary glaucoma is a common consequence in patients undergoing surgery for congenital cataracts, although it may not occur until years after the initial operation.

High quality optical coherence tomography (OCT) images cannot be obtained in a large percentage of glaucoma patients without pupillary dilation.

The drug development pipeline is bursting with new pharmaceutical products that may one day be useful in glaucoma therapy.

Circumferential viscodilation and tensioning of Schlemm's canal is a safe and effective surgical procedure for reducing intraocular pressure in adult patients with open-angle glaucoma.

A new pressure-to-cornea index (PCI) has been created in an attempt to integrate intraocular pressure (IOP) and central corneal thickness (CCT) into a unified risk factor.

The glaucoma-specific health-related quality of life questionnaire, Glau-Qol, demonstrates good correlations with disease progression in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

By 2010, glaucoma will affect 60 million people worldwide and cause blindness in more than 8 million.1 Despite the availability of effective treatments that delay or halt progression of the disease, an unacceptable number of people with glaucoma remain undiagnosed and untreated. Strategies for achieving earlier and more accurate diagnosis of glaucoma are therefore urgently needed to combat the rising burden of this disease in an ageing European population.

Results of an international survey have found that the majority of people aged over 40 years of age do not attend eye examinations.

Lower systolic perfusion pressure, lower systolic blood pressure and cardiovascular disease history are all predictors of glaucoma.

In patients with advanced visual field loss undergoing trabeculectomy with mitomycin C, there is a risk of severe loss of central vision.

In patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG), the increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) caused by pharmacological pupillary dilation is related to the likelihood of future progression of glaucoma.

A gap analysis approach may be preferable to Kaplan-Meier survival curves for analysing patient persistence with prescribed medications.

The Visual Impairment Instrument (IVI) and the Glaucoma Symptom Scale (GSS) are suboptimal scales for assessing patients with glaucoma but relatively good vision.

Central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements should be included as part of a complete ocular examination, particularly in patients at risk of developing primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), according to a study conducted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and published in the journal Ophthalmology.

Heidelberg Engineering premiered its new perimeter technology at this year's World Glaucoma Congress in Singapore.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan has approved Alcon's treatment for glaucoma and ocular hypertension, TRAVATANZ 0.004%.

The World Glaucoma Association has announced consensus findings that further determine the role of intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucoma.

The Ex-PRESS implant appears to be as effective as trabeculectomy, furthermore it reduces postoperative compliance issues and seems to be safer, according to a paper presented at this year's World Glaucoma Congress held in Singapore.

Israeli firm IOPtima has completed development of its novel laser-based therapy for the treatment of glaucoma, OT134.

Drugs which slow the progress of Alzheimer's disease may also protect patients at risk of eye damage from glaucoma.