IGS 2007

All the news from the sixth annual meeting of the International Glaucoma Society, held March 28–31 2007 in Athens, Greece.

Disclaimer:This information has been independently developed and provided by the editors of Ophthalmology Times Europe.

The sponsors do not endorse and are not responsible for the accuracy of the content or for practices or standards of non-sponsor sources.

These articles may discuss regimens that have not been approved by the appropriate regulatory bodies. For full prescribing information including indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and adverse experiences please see the appropriate manufacturer's product circular.

Non-absorbable implants better in the long-termThe use of implants in deep sclerectomy enhances success rates and lowers the need for postoperative medications, according to Petr Strnad, MD and colleagues from the Masaryk University, Czech Republic. 

Travoprost and bimatoprost cause dry eyeThe use of travoprost 0.004% and bimatoprost 0.03% can have adverse effects on the ocular surface and can result in dry eye symptoms, according to Samet Ermis and co-workers from the Kocatepe University School of Medicine, Turkey. 

IOP not useful in mass glaucoma screeningScanning laser polarimetry with customized cornea compensation (GDx-VCC) and Matrix Frequency Doubling Technology (M-FDT) are more accurate than intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements when employed for mass glaucoma screening, according to Dr Toth and co-workers from the Semmelweis University, Hungary. 

SLT: effective in the long-term?The IOP-lowering effect of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) does weaken with time but, unlike argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT), it is a repeatable procedure and offers a better risk/benefit ratio than other glaucoma treatments, according to Madhu Nagar from the Clayton Eye Centre, UK. 

Trabeculectomy and MMC a success at nine yearsIn eyes with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), trabeculectomy with low dosage mitomycin-C (MMC) and intensified postoperative management offers an increased success rate and a lower incidence of complications, according to Professor Alfredo Reibaldi of the University of Catania, Italy. 

Avastin may benefit glaucoma patientsIntravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) may be an important additional treatment option for the rapid resolution of neovascular glaucoma (NVG), according to the results of a study conducted by Maia Kalev-Landoy and colleagues from the Wolfson Medical Center, Israel. 

Trabeculectomy layer-by-layerNon-penetrating layer-by-layer trabeculectomy in ostias of Schlemm's canal produces a pronounced and sustained effect and can be applied successfully in patients with therapy resistant open angle glaucoma, according to Dr Dashevskiy from the Munich University of Technology, Germany. 

MICS + trabeculectomy a good matchMicroincision cataract surgery (MICS) combined with trabeculectomy provides a one-year intraocular pressure (IOP) control comparable to that found with trabeculectomy and separate temporal clear corneal phaco, according to the results of a study by Dr Bayer and colleagues from the Ankara School of Medicine, Turkey. 

Optometrists best placed to screen populationAlthough almost a third of patients referred by optometrists do not have glaucoma, optometrists are still best placed to screen the UK population for glaucoma, according to Dr Aye and colleagues from Northampton General Hospital, UK. 

Glaucoma medications go the distanceDorzolamide/timolol fixed combinations (DTFC) and latanoprost achieve consistent 24-hour intraocular pressure (IOP) control and obtain a significant increase in 24-hour diastolic ocular perfusion pressure over a six-month treatment period, according to Anastasios Konstas from the AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. 

NPGS offers a good alternative to trabeculectomyNon-penetrating glaucoma surgery (NPGS) is a safe and effective filtering procedure and could offer an alternative to trabeculectomy in patients with open angle glaucoma, according to Dr Aslan and colleagues from Ege University School of Medicine, Turkey. 

DuoTrav a successThe introduction of DuoTrav (travoprost 0.004%/timolol 0.5%) offers a greater probability of success in reaching target intraocular pressure (IOP) with a single drop, according to Dr Raber, an Alcon consultant from Freiburg, Germany. 

Drainage implants safe for childrenGlaucoma drainage implant surgery is a safe and effective treatment for primary and secondary paediatric glaucoma in addition to initial surgical and medical therapy, according to Inka Helmanova and colleagues from the Masaryk University Hospital, Czech Republic. 

PKP commonly results in glaucomaGlaucoma is a serious complication following transplantation, with about 50% of eyes requiring further surgery. According to Justyna Izdebska and colleagues from the Medical University of Warsaw, Poland, trabeculectomy seems to be the most effective surgical treatment. 

SLT decreases diurnal IOPSelective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) can result in significant decreases in mean diurnal intraocular pressure (IOP) and diurnal IOP fluctuation, according to Gàbor Holló and colleagues from the University of Budapest, Hungary. 

Combigan may induce allergiesCombigan (brimonidine 0.2%/timolol 0.5%) can cause allergic symptoms in significant numbers of patients, according to Dr Subash and co-workers from Kingston Hospital, UK. 

How much does late stage glaucoma cost? Late stage glaucoma is associated with considerable health and social care costs and a lower visual acuity (VA) is also predictive of a lower quality of life, according to John Thygesen from University Hospital Copenhagen, Denmark and colleagues from France, the UK and Germany. 

Similar costs associated with three glaucoma drugs Two-year follow-up data from patients treated with either latanoprost, travoprost or bimatoprost demonstrates that similar resource consumption outcomes are achieved by all three, as reported by Dr Kobalt and colleagues from European Health Economics in France. 

Glaucoma patients should avoid refractive surgery In patients with manifest glaucoma, refractive surgery should be performed with extreme caution, if performed at all, according to a paper presented by Andreas Petounis from the Patission General Hospital, Greece. 

ECP effective in the long-term Endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) is an effective approach for the long-term management of difficult glaucoma cases and should be considered as a first-line treatment for refractory glaucoma, according to Francisco Lima, MD speaking at the "Surgery & Lasers in Glaucoma" session. 

The role of ocular blood flow in OAGOcular blood flow alterations and previous visual field damage may play an important role in visual field progression in open angle glaucoma (OAG), according to Antonio Martinez and colleagues from the Instituto Gallego de Oftalmologia, Spain. 

Patient education would aid compliance To help improve compliance, patients should be made aware of what a normal intraocular pressure (IOP) is and be informed of their own at each visit to their ophthalmologist, according to Rohit Arora and colleagues from the North Middlesex Hospital, UK. 

Big problem: no solution?Glaucoma is an important public-health problem in Europe, yet no public health approach exists for its detection and control, according to Tarek Shaarawy and K. Mansouri from the Hopitaux Universitaires de Genève, Switzerland. 

Disclaimer:This information has been independently developed and provided by the editors of Ophthalmology Times Europe.

The sponsors do not endorse and are not responsible for the accuracy of the content or for practices or standards of non-sponsor sources.

These articles may discuss regimens that have not been approved by the appropriate regulatory bodies. For full prescribing information including indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and adverse experiences please see the appropriate manufacturer's product circular.