David Goh

Argon Laser Peripheral Iridoplasty for Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma: A Randomized Controlled Trial

PURPOSE To determine the effectiveness of argon laser peripheral iridoplasty (ALPI) in primary angle closure (PAC) and primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). DESIGN Randomized controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS Eighty PAC or PACG subjects who underwent laser iridotomy (LI) and had at least 180° of persistent appositional angle closure and intraocular pressure (IOP) of more than 21 mmHg were enrolled. METHODS Subjects were randomized to receive either 360° ALPI (Visulas 532s; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Jena, Germany) or medical therapy (Travoprost 0.004%; Alcon-Couvreur, Puurs, Antwerp, Belgium). Repeat ALPI was performed if the IOP reduction was less than 20% from baseline along with inadequate angle widening at the month 1 or month 3 visit. Intraocular pressure was controlled with systematic addition of medications when required. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome measure was success rates after ALPI at 1 year. Complete success was defined as an IOP of 21 mmHg or less without medication, and qualified success was defined as an IOP of 21 mmHg or less with medication. Failure was defined as an IOP more than 21 mmHg despite additional medications or requiring glaucoma surgery. RESULTS Forty subjects (51 eyes) were randomized to ALPI and 40 subjects (55 eyes) were randomized to medical therapy. Complete success (IOP ≤21 mmHg without medication) was achieved in 35.0% eyes of the ALPI group compared with 85.0% of eyes in the prostaglandin analog (PGA) group (P < 0.001), and qualified success (IOP ≤21 mmHg with medication) was achieved in 35.0% and 7.5%, respectively (P = 0.003). The IOP decreased by 4.9 mmHg (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.5-6.3 mmHg) in the ALPI group (P < 0.001) and by 6.1 mmHg (95% CI, 5.1-7.1 mmHg) in the medication group (P < 0.001). A failure rate of 30.0% was noted in the ALPI group compared with 7.5% in the medication group (P = 0.01). No treatment-related complications were recorded in either group. CONCLUSIONS After 1 year, ALPI was associated with higher failure rates and lower IOP reduction compared with PGA therapy in eyes with persistent appositional angle closure and raised IOP after LI.

Association of Functional Loss With the Biomechanical Response of the Optic Nerve Head to Acute Transient Intraocular Pressure Elevations

Importance The acute biomechanical response of the optic nerve head (ONH) to intraocular pressure (IOP) elevations may serve as a biomarker for the development and progression of glaucoma. Objective To evaluate the association between visual field loss and the biomechanical response of the ONH to acute transient IOP elevations. Design, Setting, and Participants In this observational study, 91 Chinese patients (23 with primary open-angle glaucoma [POAG], 45 with primary angle-closure glaucoma, and 23 without glaucoma) were recruited from September 3, 2014, through February 2, 2017. Optical coherence tomography scans of the ONH were acquired at baseline and at 2 sequential IOP elevations (0.64 N and then 0.90 N, by applying forces to the anterior sclera using an ophthalmodynamometer). In each optical coherence tomography volume, lamina cribrosa depth (LCD) and minimum rim width (MRW) were calculated. The mean deviation (MD) and the visual field index (VFI), as assessed by automated perimetry, were correlated with IOP-induced changes of LCD and MRW globally and sectorially. Main Outcomes and Measures The LCD, MRW, MD, and VFI. Results Among the 91 patients, 39 (42.9%) were women; the mean (SD) age was 65.48 (7.23) years. In POAG eyes, a greater change in LCD (anterior displacement) was associated with worse MD and VFI (R = −0.64; 95% CI, −0.97 to −0.31; P = .001; and R = −0.57; 95% CI, −0.94 to −0.19; P = .005, respectively) at the first IOP elevation, and a greater reduction in MRW was also associated with worse MD and VFI (first IOP elevation: R = −0.48; 95% CI, −0.86 to −0.09; P = .02; and R = −0.57; 95% CI, −0.94 to −0.20; P = .004, respectively; second IOP elevation: R = −0.56; 95% CI, −0.98 to −0.13; P = .01; and R = −0.60; 95% CI, −1.03 to −0.17; P = .008, respectively), after adjusting for age, sex, and baseline IOP. A correlation was found between the reduction in MRW in the inferior-temporal sector and the corresponding visual field cluster in POAG eyes at the second elevation (&rgr; = −0.55; 95% CI, −0.78 to −0.18; P = .006). Conclusions and Relevance The biomechanical response of the ONH to acute IOP elevations was associated with established visual field loss in POAG eyes, but not in primary angle-closure glaucoma eyes. This suggests that ONH biomechanics may be related to glaucoma severity in POAG and that the 2 glaucoma subgroups exhibit inherently different biomechanical properties.

Lack of Association Between Corneal Hysteresis and Corneal Resistance Factor With Glaucoma Severity in Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma.

PURPOSE We investigated the association between corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF) with glaucoma severity in primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG). METHODS We recruited 204 subjects with PACG. Each subject underwent CH and CRF measurements using the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA), optic nerve head topography measurement using scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, and visual field assessment. Glaucoma severity was based on the visual field mean deviation (MD) and classified as mild (71), moderate (55), and severe (78). RESULTS The mean age ± SD of study subjects was 68.7 ± 8.9 years, with most being Chinese (n = 186; 91.2%). Corneal hysteresis and CRF were lowest in the severe PACG group (9.32 ± 1.86 and 9.50 ± 1.67 mm Hg) followed by moderate PACG (9.38 ± 1.88 and 9.73 ± 1.88 mm Hg) and mild PACG (9.47 ± 1.90 and 9.85 ± 1.75 mm Hg) respectively, but the differences were not significant (P = 0.89 and P = 0.46, respectively). There was a significant positive correlation between CH and central corneal thickness (CCT; correlation coefficient [r] = 0.26, P < 0.001), CRF and CCT (r = 0.43, P < 0.001), and negative correlation between CRF and vertical cup-disc ratio (VCDR; r = -0.20, P = 0.004), and CRF with cup-disc area (r = -0.14, P = 0.04). Corneal hysteresis and CRF were not correlated with MD (r = 0.01 for CH, r = 0.1 for CRF). After multivariate analyses, adjusting for age, sex, CCT, axial length, intraocular pressure, and number of glaucoma medication, no significant associations were noted between CH and CRF with MD, VCDR, disc area, rim area, or cup area. CONCLUSIONS Corneal biomechanical parameters measured by the ORA are not associated with severity of glaucoma in PACG.

Plateau Iris Distribution Across Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography Defined Subgroups of Subjects With Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma

Purpose We previously identified three distinct subgroups of patients with primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) based on anterior segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT) imaging. Group 1 was characterized by a large iris area with deepest anterior chambers, group 2 by a large lens vault (LV) and shallow anterior chamber depth (ACD), and group 3 displayed intermediate values across iris area, LV, and ACD. The purpose of the present study was to determine the distribution of plateau iris in these subgroups using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) features. Methods UBM images of the 210 subjects who were previously enrolled for the ASOCT subgrouping analysis and had undergone laser peripheral iridotomy were assessed and graded by a single glaucoma fellowship trained clinician. Plateau iris was defined as the presence of all the following UBM criteria in at least two quadrants: anteriorly directed ciliary body, absent ciliary sulcus, iris angulation, flat iris plane, and iridoangle touch. Results Of 210 subjects, 23 were excluded due to poor-quality images. Based on standardized UBM criteria, the overall prevalence of plateau iris was 36.9% (n = 187). The proportion of plateau iris was similar across the three groups (subgroup 1:35.4% (n = 29); subgroup 2:39.0% (n = 32); subgroup 3:34.8% (n = 8), P = 0.87). On multiple logistic regression analysis, iris thickness at 750 μm from the scleral spur (IT750) was the only variable associated with plateau iris (odds ratio: 1.5/100 μm increase in iris thickness [IT], P = 0.04). Conclusions The proportion of plateau iris was similar across the three ASOCT-based PACG subgroups and more than one-third of subjects with PACG were diagnosed with plateau iris based on standardized UBM criteria. In addition, we noted that eyes with increased peripheral IT have an increased likelihood of plateau iris.