Glaucoma management varies widely in the UK

Article

The methods used to manage glaucoma vary widely across the United Kingdom, according to study results published in the November issue of Eye.

The methods used to manage glaucoma vary widely across the United Kingdom, according to study results published in the November issue of Eye.

Patel S. C. Gordon-Bennett of Broomfield Hospital, Essex, UK and colleagues conducted a questionnaire of National Health Service (NHS) consultant ophthalmologists; 493 questionnaires were completed and 469 were analysed.

Of the respondents, 60.6% were based in a general hospital and 39.4% were university-based; 30.7% were glaucoma specialists. Automated perimetry was available to 99.6% of respondents; disc photography, to 89.6%; pachymetry, 79.7%; OCT, 45.2%; HRT, 43.9% and GDx, 12.6%. A minimum of one digital imaging instrument was available for 65.7% of respondents. In glaucoma suspects, respondents used SAP (74.0%), SITA-fast (60.1%), Esterman (33.0%) and Goldmann fields (19.2%). Short-wave automated perimetry and frequency-doubled perimetry were in use but were not common. To monitor glaucoma, respondents used SAP (60.3%) and SITA-fast (42.0%).

The researchers concluded that the wide variety of instruments available is the reason for the high degree of variability in glaucoma management methods across the UK.

Newsletter

Join ophthalmologists across Europe—sign up for exclusive updates and innovations in surgical techniques and clinical care.

Recent Videos
At the Retina World Congress, Siegfried Priglinger, MD, speaks about ensuring the best outcomes for preschool-aged patients
At the 2025 ASCRS meeting, Robert Ang, MD said small aperture IOLs can benefit all patients, especially those with complex corneas or who have undergone previous corneal refractive surgery
Viha Vig, MBChB graduate student at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, discusses her poster presentation on the relationship between mitochondiral disease, Alzheimer disease, and other types of dementia.
Alfredo Sadun, MD, PhD, chief of Ophthalmology at the Doheny Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles, shared exciting new research with the Eye Care Network during the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting on the subject of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).
At this year's Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, Nitish Mehta, MD, shared highlights from his research documenting real-world results of aflibercept 8 mg for patients with diabetic macular oedema.
ARVO 2025: Anat Loewenstein, MD, shares data from herself and her colleagues on meeting needs of patients with diabetic retinopathy
At the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons annual meeting, Sheng Lim, MD, FRCOphth discusses the benefit of endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation for patients with primary open angle glaucoma and cataracts in the CONCEPT study
A photo of Seville, Spain, with the Congress on Controversies in Ophthalmology logo superimposed on it. Image credit: ©francovolpato – stock.adobe.com; logo courtesy COPHy
Anat Loewenstein, MD, Professor and Director, Department of Ophthalmology, Tel Aviv Medical Center, discusses the Congress on Controversies in Ophthalmology (COPHy)
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times Europe) AGS 2025: Clemens Strohmaier, PhD, on improving aqueous humour outflow following excimer laser trabeculostomy
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.