Search

Purpose: Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is one of the many treatment options for lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with glaucoma. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of SLT. Methods: Data were collected from medical records of 289 patients who underwent SLT treatment (180° of trabecular meshwork) during 2014 and 2015 at the Department of Ophthalmology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden. Baseline characteristics and information from a follow‐up within 100 days were also recorded. The study analysed different subtypes of glaucoma with regard to SLT, with a particular focus on exfoliative glaucoma, a common subtype in Sweden. Successful treatment was defined as an IOP lowering effect of >20% with no further changes in treatment. The impact of surgeon's experience on treatment outcome was also analysed. Results: Both patients with exfoliative glaucoma and those with primary open‐angle glaucoma showed a reduction in mean IOP; no significant difference was found between these two subtypes before treatment or at the first follow‐up. The success rate at follow‐up (within 100 days) was 52%. There was a significant difference in outcome between surgeons with different levels of experience, but this difference could likely be explained by differences in treatment strategies and total energy used. Conclusion: For many patients with glaucoma, SLT was an effective treatment option for lowering IOP. It was also effective for several glaucoma subtypes. However, not all patients had a significant reduction in IOP after treatment with SLT, and some may require additional treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To estimate the incidence rate of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) in a population in which pseudoexfoliation is a common finding. Methods: A population-based survey of 760 people aged 65–74 years was conducted in the municipality of Tierp, in central Sweden, during 1984−86. Visual fields (VFs) were tested with the Competer 350 automated perimeter. The present report concerns 711 people, all of whom participated in the survey and were not diagnosed with glaucoma. Since 1988, a follow-up study of the 530 individuals in this cohort with normal and reliable VFs has been in progress. Incident cases of OAG were identified among study participants and patients seeking medical attention at the Eye Department in Tierp. Records of prescriptions for anti-glaucoma drugs were used to search for unidentified patients. A time-weighted mean intraocular pressure (IOP) for all visits was calculated. Results: By the end of the study in May 2006, 51 new cases of definite OAG had been identified, 31 with capsular and 20 with chronic simple glaucoma. Of these, 46 cases were detected in the follow-up study, corresponding to an incidence of 7.11 (95% confidence interval 5.06–9.17) per 1000 person-years. Twelve of the 51 cases were classified as normal-tension glaucoma, all of which were found in the follow-up study. Open-angle glaucoma with a mean IOP ≥ 23 mmHg tended to emerge closer to the baseline examination than OAG with a mean IOP < 23 mmHg. Conclusions: The incidence of OAG was high compared with that reported for other studies conducted in White populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To estimate the risk of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) associated with exposure to pseudoexfoliation (PEX) and increased intraocular pressure (IOP). Methods: In 1984−86, a cross-sectional, population-based survey was conducted in the municipality of Tierp, central Sweden. Its target population comprised 2429 residents aged 65–74 years. In addition to a sample of 760 people, patients previously diagnosed with glaucoma were examined. The prevalence of OAG in the target population was estimated from the prevalence in the sample and patients already diagnosed. A review of prevalent cases in 1984–86 was undertaken in 2006. Results: Definite OAG was established in 77 cases, corresponding to a prevalence of 5.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.4–6.2). Of these, 23 represented newly detected cases. The prevalence of PEX was 17.2% (95% CI 14.6–19.9), calculated from 134 cases in the population sample. When adjusting for gender, PEX was associated with a 4.7-fold (95% CI 2.2–9.4) increased risk of OAG. For clinical cases only, the risk was 16-fold (95% CI 4.8–56) greater in subjects with PEX, compared with those without PEX. In individuals without a previous diagnosis of glaucoma, an IOP ≥ 20 mmHg was associated with a 9.7-fold (95% CI 3.7–27) increased risk, but PEX alone was not a risk factor for OAG (adjusted odds ratio = 0.96). Conclusions: Pseudoexfoliation was associated with OAG only in people previously diagnosed with the disease. In cases detected in the population-based survey, increased IOP was a serious risk factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]