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The retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) measurements of scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) using variable corneal polarization compensation are compared with the standard red-free photography for detection of RNFL damage in glaucoma. There exists a moderate correlation between RNFL thickness measurements obtained with SLP and RNFL scores from red-free photographs.

Glaucoma is an abnormal condition of elevated pressure (above 21 mm of mercury) within the eye caused by obstruction of the outflow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber (portion of the eye between the cornea and the lens). One method of treating refractory glaucoma is Molteno implant surgery in which a tube is implanted to drain aqueous from the anterior chamber. This method, although successful in controlling intraocular pressure, has a high complication rate. A report is presented of the results of Molteno implant surgery performed on 41 patients (one eye each). The procedure was successful in controlling intraocular pressure (18 millimeters of mercury, mmHg, or less) in 32 patients (78 percent). The average preoperative intraocular pressure was 40 mmHg; after surgery the average was 16 mmHg. Average follow-up was 16 months. Vision remained unchanged in 23 patients (56 percent), improved in nine (22 percent), and worsened in nine. There were 11 major complications: shallow anterior chamber and hypotony (low pressure) in six patients; vitreous hemorrhage in two patients; retinal detachment in one individual; and malignant glaucoma was seen in two subjects. Three of the six patients who developed shallow anterior chamber suffered decreased vision caused by edema of the macula (the portion of the retina containing the point of central vision); all patients regained full anterior chamber depth within two weeks. The authors believe that the rate and seriousness of some of these complications may be reduced by modification of surgical technique. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

An eye disease that is associated with glaucoma is pigment dispersion syndrome, which is characterized by heavy pigmentation of the trabecular meshwork and the presence of Krukenberg spindles, brownish-red opacities on the posterior portion of the cornea. This syndrome is seen in secondary, open-angle glaucoma, a condition that occurs primarily in young, nearsighted white males. Pigment dispersion syndrome has been considered rare in Orientals and virtually nonexistent in blacks. A prospective study was undertaken of black patients seen in a glaucoma clinic. Of the 1,217 patients examined, 20 had pigment dispersion syndrome. In this group of 20 patients the average age was 73 years. There were 19 women and only one man, and most the patients were farsighted. These patients did not show the usual bowing of the iris of the eye, but instead the iris tended to be flat. The authors believe this to be a newly described pigment dispersion syndrome seen in blacks; it also appears to be most common in older women with farsightedness. These findings distinguish it from the classic pigment dispersion syndrome. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

* Too much caffeine may be detrimental for people with glaucoma and ocular hypertension, suggests a Tel Aviv University study. Six people with glaucoma and 22 people with ocular hypertension [...]

A 61-year-old black female glaucoma patient, previously managed with beta-blockers, requires medical intervention for airway obstructive disease. The patient initially presented to me in 1997 at age 54 with a [...]

In the fall of 2001, a 73-year-old white male presented to the office as a new patient, having just moved to the area. He presented with a history of glaucoma [...]

Perimetry is a tool of the ophthalmologist that defines the extent of the peripheral visual field. It is used to determine the progression of glaucoma and assist in its management. Today computerized perimetry is becoming the standard method of testing visual fields in patients with glaucoma. It is helpful in detecting early glaucoma-related visual field loss. However, there is considerable variability in the perimetry results obtained for the same person at different times. In this study, 51 patients with varying degrees of glaucoma were tested four times during a four-week period. The results indicate that, if defect depth and point location are taken into consideration, it will be easier to separate progression of glaucoma from random test variation. The authors assigned numeric values to these factors. They also suggested that perimetry comparisons be based on more than just two test results. Because of the complexity of the inter-test variation seen in glaucoma, computer assisted perimetry analysis is helpful. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Glaucoma is a serious eye condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure which can result in atrophy of the optic nerve and blindness. Impairment of the field of vision (the scope of vision for each eye when looking straight ahead) can be caused by damage to the visual pathway from the optic nerve to the brain. Studies of visual field damage in patients with high tension glaucoma and those with low tension glaucoma have provided conflicting results. To investigate the differences in visual field damage in normal tension and high tension glaucoma, 40 patients were studied. The characteristics of the normal areas of visual fields were studied. The patients were divided into groups based solely on intraocular pressure; no other risk factors for glaucoma were taken into consideration. The results indicate that for a given amount of damage the patients with low tension glaucoma had more areas of normal vision, and the damage that was present was more localized. The patients with high tension glaucoma (higher intraocular pressure) had visual field damage that was distributed more diffusely. Further studies should determine if factors other than intraocular pressure can reflect glaucoma-related visual field damage.

New studies show glaucoma patients have a high prevalence of this bacterium. Glaucoma is a multifactorial disease process that we are only beginning to understand completely. The final common pathway [...]

Information on Cambridge Antibody Technology's CAT-152 product in preventing scarring following combined glaucoma and cataract surgery is offered. Additional information on clinical trials of the drug to evaluate its therapeutic efficiency is included.

These are the four leading causes of blindness and vision impairment in the United States, according to the National Eye Institute: * Diabetic retinopathy. The leading cause of blindness in [...]