Home monitoring for glaucoma Che Hamzah, Jemaima; Daka, Qëndresë; Azuara-Blanco, Augusto
Eye,
01/2020, Volume:
34, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Glaucoma services are overwhelmed and struggling to accommodate current demand. Reducing the need for hospital based services would improve our ability to see those most at risk of vision loss, which ...could both reduce demand and improve patient outcomes. Digital technologies that provide opportunities for home monitoring of glaucoma progression have potential to contribute to solve these challenges and, potentially, improve glaucoma care. This article will review the literatures of well-established technologies that support home monitoring for glaucoma, specifically home tonometry (with rebound tonometry) and perimetry with Moorfields Motion Displacement Test and Melbourne Rapid Field.
Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA) comprise a rare, genetic subgroup within the degenerative ataxias and are dominantly inherited, with up to 48 recognized genetic subtypes. While an updated review on the ...management of degenerative ataxia is published recently, an evidence-based review focussed on the management of SCA is lacking. Here, we reviewed the pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of SCA by conducting a systematic review on Medline Ovid and Scopus. Of 29,284 studies identified, 47 studies (pharmacological:
n
= 25; non-pharmacological:
n
= 22) that predominantly involved SCA patients were included. Twenty studies had a high risk of bias based on the Cochrane’s Collaboration risk of bias tool. As per the European Federation of Neurological Societies 2004 guideline for therapeutic intervention, the remaining 27 studies were of Class I (
n
= 4) and Class II (
n
= 23) evidence. Only two therapies had Level A recommendations for the management of ataxia symptoms: riluzole and immediate in-patient neurorehabilitation. Ten therapies had Level B recommendations for managing ataxia symptoms and require further investigations with better study design. These include high dose valproate acid, branched-chain amino acid, intravenous trehalose; restorative rehabilitation using cycling regimen and videogame; and cerebellar stimulations using transcranial direct current stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation. Lithium and coaching on psychological adjustment received Level B recommendation for depressive symptoms and quality of life, respectively. Heterogeneous study designs, different genotypes, and non-standardized clinical measures alongside short duration and small sample sizes may hamper meaningful clinical translation. Therefore, rating of recommendations only serve as points of reference.
AimTo estimate the minimally important difference (MID) in change in National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (VFQ-25) composite score using methods aligned with patient ...perception.MethodsRetrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from adults with primary angle closure or primary angle closure glaucoma enrolled in the Effectiveness, in Angle-closure Glaucoma, of Lens Extraction study. We included data from 335 participants with patient reported visual function (VFQ-25) and health status measured by the EQ-5D-3L over 36 months. We used the recommended anchor-based methods (receiver operating characteristic (ROC), predictive modelling and mean change) to determine the MID of the VFQ-25. EQ-5D-3L anchor change was defined as none (<0.065); minimal (0.065≤EQ-5D-3L change ≤0.075 points) and greater change (>0.075 points).ResultsMean baseline VFQ-25 score was 87.6 (SD 11.8). Estimated MIDs in the change in VFQ-25 scores (95% CI) were 10.5 (1.9 to 19.2); 3.9 (−2.3 to 10.1); 5.8 (1.9 to 7.2) and 8.1 (1.7 to 14.8) for the ‘within-patient’, ‘between-patient’ change, ROC and predictive modelling anchor methods respectively. Excluding estimates from the methodologically weaker ‘within-patient’ method, the MID of a change in VFQ-25 composite score is 5.8 (median value).ConclusionsEstimates of the MID using multiple methods assist in the interpretation of the VFQ scores. In the context of early glaucoma related visual disability, a change score of around six points on the VFQ-25 is likely to be important to patients. Further confirmatory research is required. Studies comparing changes in patient-reported outcome measure scores with a global measure of patients’ perceived change are required.
We report a case of successful argon laser synechiolysis as a non-invasive alternative for peripheral anterior synechiae release after trabeculectomy in a young patient with steroid-induced ocular ...hypertension. Steroid-induced ocular hypertension is a known complication of vernal keratoconjunctivitis due to prolonged treatment with steroids. In refractive conditions, augmented trabeculectomy becomes the surgery of choice in these patients. In this article, we report successful treatment of iris tissue plugging the internal ostium with an argon laser and reinstatement of aqueous flow.
Post-surgical scarring is a known cause of trabeculectomy failure. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of ranibizumab as an adjuvant anti-scarring agent in experimental ...trabeculectomy. Forty New Zealand white rabbits were randomised into four eye treatment groups: groups A (control), B (ranibizumab 0.5 mg/mL), C (mitomycin C MMC 0.4 mg/mL), and D (ranibizumab 0.5 mg/mL and MMC 0.4 mg/mL). Modified trabeculectomy was performed. Clinical parameters were assessed on post-operative days 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, and 21. Twenty rabbits were euthanised on day 7, and the other twenty were euthanised on day 21. Eye tissue samples were obtained from the rabbits and stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E). All treatment groups showed a significant difference in IOP reduction compared with group A (
< 0.05). Groups C and D showed a significant difference in bleb status on days 7 (
= 0.001) and 21 (
= 0.002) relative to group A. H&E staining showed significantly low fibrotic activity (
< 0.001) in group C on both days and inflammatory cell grade in group B on day 7 (
< 0.001). The grade for new vessel formation was significantly low in groups B and D on day 7 (
< 0.001) and in group D on day 21 (
= 0.007). Ranibizumab plays a role in reducing scarring, and a single application of the ranibizumab-MMC combination showed a moderate wound-modulating effect in the early post-operative phase.
This case report aims to describe a case of unilateral central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) with cilioretinal artery sparing, which was complicated by neovascular glaucoma (NVG). A 75-year-old ...Indian woman with underlying normal tension glaucoma presented with the sudden onset of painless generalized blurring of the right eye's vision for a week. Her right eye vision was hand motion with the presence of a right relative afferent pupillary defect. Fundus examination revealed retinal whitening over the macula sparing the papillomacular bundle with generalized retinal arteriolar attenuation, which was suggestive of right CRAO with cilioretinal artery sparing. Systemic examination revealed high blood pressure (175/75 mmHg) without ocular bruit or audible murmur on auscultation. Optical coherence tomography of the macula showed inner retinal thickening over the temporal macula. Ultrasound carotid Doppler and computed tomography angiography of the carotid showed more than 75% stenosis over the right distal internal carotid artery. Unfortunately, she developed rubeosis iridis over her right eye two weeks after her presentation, which required pan-retinal photocoagulation. She subsequently progressed to NVG, requiring maximum anti-glaucoma medications to stabilize intraocular pressure. In conclusion, CRAO is a sight-threatening medical emergency. Thorough investigations are required to determine the underlying cause so that early intervention can be done to reduce the risk of a similar attack in the fellow eye and the risk of a cerebrovascular event or cardiac ischemia, which could be life-threatening. The presence of a cilioretinal artery does not prevent ocular neovascularization in CRAO. Hence, patients should also be closely monitored after the initial diagnosis to prevent devastating complications such as NVG.
Trehalose, a unique nonreducing crystalline disaccharide, is a potential disease-modifying treatment for neurodegenerative diseases associated with protein misfolding and aggregation due to aging, ...intrinsic mutations, or autophagy dysregulation. This systematic review summarizes the effects of trehalose on its underlying mechanisms in animal models of selected neurodegenerative disorders (tau pathology, synucleinopathy, polyglutamine tract, and motor neuron diseases). All animal studies on neurodegenerative diseases treated with trehalose published in Medline (accessed via EBSCOhost) and Scopus were considered. Of the 2259 studies screened, 29 met the eligibility criteria. According to the SYstematic Review Center for Laboratory Animal Experiment (SYRCLE) risk of bias tool, we reported 22 out of 29 studies with a high risk of bias. The present findings support the purported role of trehalose in autophagic flux and protein refolding. This review identified several other lesser-known pathways, including modifying amyloid precursor protein processing, inhibition of reactive gliosis, the integrity of the blood-brain barrier, activation of growth factors, upregulation of the downstream antioxidant signaling pathway, and protection against mitochondrial defects. The absence of adverse events and improvements in the outcome parameters were observed in some studies, which supports the transition to human clinical trials. It is possible to conclude that trehalose exerts its neuroprotective effects through both direct and indirect pathways. However, heterogeneous methodologies and outcome measures across the studies rendered it impossible to derive a definitive conclusion. Translational studies on trehalose would need to clarify three important questions: 1) bioavailability with oral administration, 2) optimal time window to confer neuroprotective benefits, and 3) optimal dosage to confer neuroprotection.
We report a case of bilateral open globe injury that resulted from a durian fruit falling on a 62-year-old woman's unprotected face during durian picking in her orchard. On presentation, the ...bilateral vision was light perception. The right eye sustained a curvilinear corneal laceration with expelled intraocular content. Meanwhile, the left eye sustained a corneoscleral laceration with expelled uvea and retina. Additionally, the right upper lid margin was lacerated. Emergency wound exploration, primary toilet, and suturing were performed on bilateral eyes. Preoperatively, she received intramuscular anti-tetanus toxoid and intravenous ciprofloxacin. Intravitreal ceftazidime and vancomycin were given intraoperatively as endophthalmitis prophylaxis. Postoperatively, the vision remained as light perception. There were no signs of endophthalmitis in both eyes. Although traumatic globe injury due to durian is uncommon, individuals should wear protective gear while in a durian orchard to avoid such unprecedented accidents. Prompt yet scrupulous action should be taken to save the globe and further possible complications.
Iridodialysis occurs less commonly due to ocular surgeries as compared to trauma. Several approaches to iridodialysis repair have been described in the literature. In this report, we describe a novel ...technique to treat iridodialysis that occurred due to complicated extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE). This technique utilizes pre-existing ECCE wounds by making use of common materials found in the usual operation theaters and is relatively easy to master. Improved cosmetic appearance and visual acuity was the final outcome as demonstrated in our patient.