Browse articles on EyeWorld.org from the Glaucoma section. EyeWorld is the award-winning member publication of ASCRS. The magazine provides news and updates from the Society as well as clinical features in the areas of cataract, refractive, cornea, glaucoma, and practice management. It publishes quarterly with editorial direction from its medical editorial board and staff.
While ophthalmologists agree that glaucoma drops are not likely to go extinct as part of glaucoma management, recent innovation continues to shift their place in many physicians’ glaucoma treatment algorithm. One of these disruptive innovations is sustained drug delivery. Two experts weighed in on the topic.
In June 2024, the FDA approved the FSYX Ocular Pressure Adjusting Pump by Balance Ophthalmics, making it the first non-surgical, non-pharmaceutical, IOP-lowering therapy for patients with open angle glaucoma. Physicians shared how they are excited about being able to lower IOP safely in normal tension glaucoma patients with accompanying nocturnal IOP elevations.
Glaucoma Editor Manjool Shah, MD, previewed the articles in the section and shared his thoughts on using the past to guide the future. “However, we should not be deluded into thinking our feet are planted in cement, holding us back from achieving new heights,” he said.
In treating glaucoma, educating the patient about their disease is a crucial step. In addition to finding an appropriate treatment plan, it’s important for the patient to understand the nature of their disease. Two specialists discussed how they help patients understand glaucoma and how testing and treatments options play in.
While glaucoma specialists who spoke with EyeWorld said gonioscopy remains a vital and valuable tool in the clinic, newer imaging systems can help visualize the angle as well, overcoming some limitations of gonioscopy and becoming a complementary technology.
“In this issue, we delve into some of the challenges of common glaucoma surgeries, as well as discuss exciting new technology that may provide us an opportunity to overcome barriers and provide high-quality care in a safer and more predictable fashion,” said Manjool Shah, MD, Glaucoma Editor, in his introduction.
Various patient scenarios, combined with surgeon preferences and comfort with the procedures, dictate tube shunt placement for glaucoma patients. The different placement options allow the surgeons to knock down obstacles in order to set the patient up for the greatest likelihood of tube shunt success.
Two surgeons shared their insights on the pearls they have gained using the XEN Gel Stent (AbbVie), which originally received FDA approval in 2016.
SLT has gained popularity in the treatment of glaucoma, and there are several new laser technologies and procedures in various stages of development. Glaucoma specialists spoke with EyeWorld about a few of the newer options and what they’re excited about.
Recent changes to training have seen the addition of a requirement for trainees to perform five MIGS procedures as the primary surgeon. Requirements for tube shunts and trabeculectomy remain in place, but those in training can be the surgeon or assistant on five procedures. Several surgeons weighed in on these changes.
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