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Awareness weeks guide

Glaucoma Awareness Week

World Glaucoma Week

10-16 March 2024

World Glaucoma Week is a global initiative organized by the World Glaucoma Association. Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness, and distinct challenges may be present in different regions of the world. The goal of this week is to alert everyone to have regular eye and optic nerve checks to detect glaucoma as early as possible because there are available treatments for all forms of glaucoma to prevent visual loss. World Glaucoma Association

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Articles

Research

Risks

Treatment

Clinical guidelines

Patient resources

Journals

E-books

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Articles

Research

Increased Glaucoma case-finding through routine Optical Coherence Tomography in Optometry practice
The routine use of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) in optometric practice may lead to more timely glaucoma detection and prevention of avoidable vision loss. Journal of glaucoma 28 November 2023

Assessment of a Large Language Model’s (LLM) responses to questions and cases about Glaucoma and Retina management
This study accentuates the comparative proficiency of LLM chatbots in diagnostic accuracy and completeness compared with fellowship-trained ophthalmologists in various clinical scenarios. The LLM chatbot outperformed glaucoma specialists and matched retina specialists in diagnostic and treatment accuracy, substantiating its role as a promising diagnostic adjunct in ophthalmology. JAMA 22 February 2024

Clinical outcomes of the PAUL® glaucoma implant: One-year results
PAUL® Glaucoma Implant (PGI) surgery is an effective procedure for reducing IOP and pressure-lowering therapy. An intraluminal prolene stent impedes hypotony in the early postoperative phase and enables further IOP lowering without additional interventions during the postoperative course. . Clinical & experimental ophthalmology 9 May 2023

Evaluating primary treatment for people with Advanced Glaucoma: Five-year results of the treatment of advanced Glaucoma study
At 5 years, the Treatment of Advanced Glaucoma Study demonstrated that primary trabeculectomy surgery is more effective in lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) and preventing disease progression than primary medical treatment in patients with advanced disease and has a similar safety profile. Opthalmology 9 January 2024

Effect of ‘365 Breathing Technique’ on Intraocular Pressure and Autonomic Functions in Glaucoma patients: A randomised controlled trial
365 breathing technique (3times a day, breathing rate: 6cycles/min for 5 min) can reduce intraocular pressure(IOP), serum cortisol and improve autonomic dysfunction in glaucoma patients. Journal of Glaucoma 9 January 2024

Glaucoma screening guidelines worldwide
General population screening for glaucoma has been adopted as a recommendation by only a few organizations and only in specific situations. It is the screening of high-risk populations that has been demonstrated to be not only clinically useful in diagnosing and treating larger proportions of the general population benefiting from a higher positive-predictive value for screening protocols in these groups but also cost-effective. Further research is needed to create cost-effective protocols to successfully screen these high-risk populations for glaucoma using methods that are sufficiently sensitive and specific. Journal of Glaucoma 9 January 2024

Circadian rhythm of intraocular pressure
Intraocular pressure (IOP) plays a crucial role in glaucoma development, involving the dynamics of aqueous humor (AH). AH flows in from the ciliary body and exits through the trabecular meshwork (TM). IOP follows a circadian rhythm synchronized with the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the circadian pacemaker. The SCN resets peripheral clocks through sympathetic nerves or adrenal glucocorticoids (GCs). IOP's circadian rhythm is governed by circadian time signals, sympathetic noradrenaline (NE), and GCs, rather than the local clock. The activity of Na+/K+-ATPase in non-pigmented epithelial cells in the ciliary body can influence the nocturnal increase in IOP by enhancing AH inflow. Conversely, NE, not GCs, can regulate the IOP rhythm by suppressing TM macrophage phagocytosis and AH outflow. The activation of the β1-adrenergic receptor (AR)-mediated EPAC-SHIP1 signal through the ablation of phosphatidylinositol triphosphate may govern phagocytic cup formation. These findings could offer insights for better glaucoma management, such as chronotherapy. The journal of physiological sciences 2 March 2024

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Risks

Calcium Channel Blocker use and Associated Glaucoma and related traits among UK Biobank participants
In this study, an adverse association between Calcium Channel Blocker (CCB) use and glaucoma was observed, with CCB users having, on average, 39% higher odds of glaucoma. Calcium channel blocker use was also associated with thinner mGCIPL and mRNFL thicknesses, providing a structural basis that supports the association with glaucoma. The lack of association of CCB use with IOP suggests that an IOP-independent mechanism of glaucomatous neurodegeneration may be involved. Although a causal relationship has not been established, CCB replacement or withdrawal may be considered should glaucoma progress despite optimal care. JAMA 7 September 2023

Investigating the causal relationship between sleep behaviors and primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study
This study demonstrated that genetic prediction of getting up easily in the morning or sleep duration were associated with a higher risk of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), but not vice versa, in a European population. Further validation and clinical interventions are required to offer potential strategies to prevent and manage POAG. Nature and science of sleep 15 February 2024

Long-term risk of glaucoma after cataract surgery in childhood
Cataract surgery in childhood is associated with a high risk of late-onset glaucoma. Regular lifelong follow-up is important to ensure early diagnosis and prevent extensive vision loss. Acta Ophthalmologica 17 January 2024

From bench to behaviour: The role of lifestyle factors on intraocular pressure, neuroprotection, and disease progression in glaucoma
Current glaucoma management centres on intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction through pharmacological and surgical therapy. Despite broad interest in active management of glaucoma through lifestyle modifications, such recommendations have yet to be incorporated into standards of treatment. In this review, noteworthy preclinical studies and their translations in clinical populations are discussed to evaluate the roles of lifestyle factors in lowering IOP, offering neuroprotection, and/or slowing disease progression in those with open-angle glaucoma. Current literature suggests that aerobic exercise may be associated with neuroprotection and decreased disease progression. Mindfulness is associated with IOP reductions and neuroprotection. Caffeine is associated with mild, transient IOP elevations of uncertain significance. Nicotinamide supplementation is associated with neuroprotection and short-term visual function improvement. This review also highlights knowledge gaps regarding these factors and opportunities to strengthen our understanding of their role in glaucoma, including future preclinical studies that elucidate underlying mechanisms and clinical studies with additional functional endpoints and longer follow-up. Clinical & experimental ophthalmology 1 March 2023

Optical coherence Tomography–Derived Measurements of the Optic Nerve Head Structure of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
Differences exist in the optic nerve head (ONH)  structure between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and non-Indigenous children, which may have implications for the detection and monitoring of ocular disease in this population and highlights the need to extend this research to the adult population. Journal of glaucoma 25 July 2023

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Treatment

Systematic review and appraisal of quality, definitions and treatment recommendations of clinical guidelines for glaucoma suspects
There is substantial room to improve the methodological quality of most current international clinical guidelines for glaucoma suspects. Clinicians should consider this finding when using such guidelines to inform their care of glaucoma suspects. Substantial variation in the definition of a POAG suspect and recommendations for treatment initiation underscores important gaps in the current evidence for the accurate prediction of glaucoma development and treatment effectiveness in these individuals. Clinical & experimental ophthalmology 13 December 2023

Primary trabeculectomy for advanced glaucoma: pragmatic multicentre randomised controlled trial (TAGS)
Primary trabeculectomy had similar quality of life and safety outcomes and achieved a lower intraocular pressure compared with primary medication. BMJ 12 May 2021

How latanoprost changed glaucoma management
The objective of this paper is to review the role of prostaglandin analogues (PGAs) in the treatment of glaucoma over the 25 years since the launch of Latanoprost and their impact on clinical practice outcomes. Acta Ophthalmologica 20 February 2024

Decision factors for Glaucoma suspects and Ocular Hypertensive Treatment at an academic center
Higher intraocular pressure (IOP), retinal nerve fiber layers (RNFL) thinning, and optic disc drusen were the strongest factors in the decision to treat a glaucoma suspect or ocular hypertensive patient. RNFL asymmetry, ganglion cell–inner plexiform layers (GCIPL) thinning, and ocular comorbidities may also factor into treatment decisions. Journal of current glaucoma practice 1 July 2023

Efficacy and safety of an Adjustable Glaucoma Drainage Device (eyeWatch System) for Refractory Glaucoma: A 2-year prospective study
Implantation of the eyeWatch (eW) system effectively lowered IOP and reduced glaucoma medications for a 2-year period in patients who had previously failed glaucoma surgery. Persistent hypotony was not observed and the number of complications was low. Journal of glaucoma 3 November 2023

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Patient resources

What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye disease that can cause blindness. Glaucoma is a chronic, progressive disease involving damage to nerve fibers in the eye and the optic nerve, which transmits visual signals to the brain. Glaucoma is the most common cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, affecting about 3 million people in the US. JAMA 6 October 2023

Glaucoma management
In glaucoma, the crucial predictors for management success are medication adherence and participation in regular clinical monitoring. One of the most important contributions you can make to protect your vision is to follow your treatment regimen as prescribed and attend regular follow-up appointments.  As glaucoma is a progressive lifelong disease, your eye pressure, optic nerves and visual field results need ongoing monitoring by your ophthalmologist or optometrist. Glaucoma Australia

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Journals

This is just a sample of the journals the library subscribes to – you will need your library login

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E-books

This is just a sample of the e-books the library subscribes to – you will need your library login

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