Jean-François Rouland

Ocular toxoplasmosis after the fifth decade

PURPOSE To describe the clinical features in patients presenting with ocular toxoplasmosis after the fifth decade and to analyze laboratory findings in comparison to uveitis history and clinical data. DESIGN Prospective consecutive observational case series. METHODS A prospective clinical analysis of 27 consecutive patients older than 50 years of age with primary or recurrent ocular toxoplasmosis was performed during a period of 8 years. These cases account for 12% of all ocular toxoplasmosis cases irrespective of age indexed in our institution during the same period. Paired serum and aqueous humor samples were tested for anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies. The presence of T. gondii DNA in aqueous humor was determined by polymerase chain reaction followed by DNA hydridization method. RESULTS Although similar in age, two groups were distinguished clinically: 12 patients (44%) presented with usual forms of retinochoroiditis (mean +/- SD, 1.6 +/- 0.5 disk areas [DA] in size); 15 patients (56%) presented with atypical lesions, greater than 3 DA in size (mean +/- SD, 5.0 +/- 2.0 DA). The second group showed a higher rate of complications (P =.028) and a poorer visual outcome (P =.015). Twenty-four patients (89%) had intraocular IgG production, 17 (63%) had intraocular IgA production, 3 (11%) had intraocular IgM production, and 12 (44%) had a positive T. gondii DNA detection. CONCLUSIONS After the fifth decade, ocular toxoplasmosis remains an important cause of posterior uveitis. The combination of antibody detection by immunocapture tests with T. gondii DNA detection, both in aqueous humor, allowed the diagnosis of toxoplasmic infection in the atypical cases with large ocular lesions.

Measurement of health-related quality of life with glaucoma: validation of the Glau-QoL© 36-item questionnaire

Purpose:  To validate a glaucoma‐specific health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) questionnaire: the Glau‐QoL©.

Nutritional, lifestyle and environmental factors in ocular hypertension and primary open‐angle glaucoma: an exploratory case–control study

Purpose:  To evaluate known and potential risk factors, including nutritional, lifestyle and environmental factors, differentiating patients with high‐tension primary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG) from control subjects with ocular hypertension (OHT).

Prevalence and risk factors for ocular surface disease among patients treated over the long term for glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

Purpose. To determine the prevalence of ocular surface diseases and identify risk factors in a population of patients receiving antiglaucomatous eyedrops over the long term. Methods. An observational cross-sectional study was designed to investigate ocular surface signs and symptoms using simple clinical tools. An ocular surface disease intensity score was calculated based on 10 questions regarding ocular surface symptoms and signs with a 4-grade scale. Patients were classified into 3 groups (A, B, and C) according to this total score. A multinomial logistic regression was performed in order to identify risk factors for surface disease. Results. In an overall population of 516 patients, 49% belonged to group A, 30% to group B, and 21% to group C. The multivariate analysis showed that the following factors were correlated with the severity of ocular surface disease: patient age, number of daily eyedrops, past topical treatment changes for ocular intolerance (found in the history of 40% of the patients), intraocular pressure (found to be significantly higher in patients with more severe ocular surface disease), and glaucoma severity. Conclusions. Patients treated for primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension often have ocular surface diseases, more often and more severely in older patients receiving more drugs and presenting with more severe glaucoma. These high prevalence values might therefore have consequences on the burden of the disease in terms of adherence to treatment and quality of life.

Efficacy and safety of preservative-free latanoprost eyedrops, compared with BAK-preserved latanoprost in patients with ocular hypertension or glaucoma

Aim To compare efficacy (intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction) and safety of preservative-free latanoprost (T2345) to benzalkonium chloride (BAK)-preserved latanoprost (BPL; Xalatan) in ocular hypertension (OHT) or primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients. Methods Prospective, international, multicentre, randomised, investigator-masked, parallel–group trial. After a wash-out period, POAG or OHT patients, previously managed by BPL monotherapy, randomly received T2345 or BPL (one drop into the affected eye(s)) once daily from D0 to D84. Change in IOP was measured at 09:00 (±1 h) from D0 to D84 in the worse eye. Results Mean IOP reduction (D0–D84) was −8.6±2.6 mm Hg (−36%) on T2345 and −9.0±2.4 mm Hg (−38%) on BPL, confirming non-inferiority of T2345 to BPL. Non-inferiority of T2345 was observed from D15. The most frequent ocular adverse event, drug intolerance, was reported in 1 (0.5%) patient on T2345 versus 4 (2.1%) patients on BPL. Moderate to severe conjunctival hyperaemia was less frequent on T2345 than on BPL at D42 (20.2% vs 30.6%; p=0.003) and D84 (21.4% vs 29.1%; p=0.02). Upon instillation, the global subjective ocular symptom score was significantly lower on T2345 than BPL on D42 (0.15 vs 0.41; p=0.001) and D84 (0.18 vs 0.46; p=0.001). Conclusions Preservative-free latanoprost has the same efficacy as BPL, with improved local tolerance.

Comparison of the intraocular pressure lowering effect of latanoprost and a fixed combination of timolol-pilocarpine eye drops in patients insufficiently controlled with β adrenergic antagonists

AIMS To compare the effect on intraocular pressure (IOP) of latanoprost monotherapy and timolol-pilocarpine in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension with inadequately controlled IOP on topical β adrenergic antagonists. METHODS This was a multicentre, randomised, observer masked, 6 week study performed in France and Sweden. 23 centres enrolled 237 patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension and an IOP of at least 22 mm Hg on treatment with topical β adrenergic antagonists, alone or in combination. After a 21 day run in period on timolol 0.5% twice daily, patients were randomised either to latanoprost 0.005% once daily or to a fixed combination of timolol-pilocarpine twice daily. Changes in mean diurnal IOP from the baseline to the 6 week visit were determined with an analysis of covariance. RESULTS Mean diurnal IOP was statistically significantly decreased from baseline in both groups (p<0.001). Switching to latanoprost treatment reduced mean diurnal IOP by 5.4 (SEM 0.3) mm Hg (ANCOVA −22%) and switching to timolol-pilocarpine treatment reduced mean diurnal IOP by 4.9 (0.4) mm Hg (−20%). Blurred vision, decreased visual acuity, decreased twilight vision, and headache were statistically significantly more frequent in the timolol-pilocarpine group. CONCLUSIONS Latanoprost monotherapy was at least as effective as fixed combination timolol-pilocarpine twice daily treatment in reducing mean diurnal IOP in patients not adequately controlled on topical β adrenergic antagonists. Latanoprost was better tolerated than timolol-pilocarpine regarding side effects. These results indicate that a switch to latanoprost monotherapy can be attempted before combination therapy is initiated.

Cyclocoagulation of the Ciliary Bodies by High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound: A 12-Month Multicenter Study

PURPOSE To evaluate the safety and efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) cyclocoagulation in reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with refractory glaucoma by using a novel miniaturized delivery device (EyeOP1). METHODS We conducted a 12-month open-label multicenter prospective study (EyeMUST1 Study). Patients with primary (primary open-angle glaucoma [POAG]) or secondary refractory glaucoma were treated in two groups depending on the duration of each ultrasound shot (group 1: 4 seconds; group 2: 6 seconds). The primary efficacy outcome was based on IOP reduction at 6 and 12 months. RESULTS Fifty-two patients were enrolled: 36 (69%) had POAG and 16 (31%) had secondary glaucoma. Group 1 (n = 24) and group 2 (n = 28) had similar demographics and baseline characteristics. In group 1, IOP was reduced from a mean preoperative value of 29.7 ± 7.7 mm Hg (n = 3.5 glaucoma medications) to a mean postoperative value of 21.3 ± 6.7 mm Hg (n = 3.5 glaucoma medications) and 20.1 ± 6.7 mm Hg (n = 3.2 glaucoma medications) at 6 and 12 months, respectively. In group 2, IOP was reduced from a mean preoperative value of 29.0 ± 7.4 mm Hg (n = 3.3 glaucoma medications) to a mean postoperative value of 20.2 ± 7.4 mm Hg (n = 3.4 glaucoma medications) and 18.5 ± 6.6 mm Hg (n = 3.5 glaucoma medications) at 6 and 12 months, respectively. At 12 months, the IOP reduction was sustained in both groups (32% IOP reduction in group 1 and 36% IOP reduction in group 2). The overall tolerance of the technique was good, with no serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS The new miniaturized HIFU EyeOP1 delivery device seems to be effective in decreasing IOP in patients with refractory glaucoma. The technology offers a good safety profile. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01338467.).

Relative Efficacy and Safety of Preservative-free Latanoprost (T2345) for the Treatment of Open-Angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension: An Adjusted Indirect Comparison Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials

Aim:To assess the relative efficacy and tolerability of preservative-free latanoprost (T2345) compared with other prostaglandin analogues (PGA) for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension by adjusted indirect comparison meta-analysis. Methods:Randomized, controlled trials evaluating PGA for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension were identified by a systematic literature review in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (up to December 2011) databases. The effect size for each treatment and heterogeneity were assessed by classical pairwise meta-analysis (direct comparisons). Adjusted indirect comparisons were performed by using Bucher method. The main endpoints were intraocular pressure (IOP) measured at 3 months and incidence of hyperemia. Results:Twenty-one studies were included in the meta-analysis. No statistically significant differences in IOP at 3 months were seen between T2345 and travoprost [preserved with benzalkonium chloride (BAK), polyquaternium-1 or sofzia], and other BAK-preserved PGA: bimatoprost 0.03%, bimatoprost 0.01%, or latanoprost. T2345 was statistically significantly superior to BAK-tafluprost (mean difference: 0.47 mm Hg, 95% confidence interval, [−1.52;−0.28]). The risk of hyperemia was statistically significantly lower with T2345 than with all the other PGA. Conclusions:Indirect comparisons never found preservative-free latanoprost (T2345) to be statistically significantly inferior to the other PGA in terms of efficacy on IOP and showed statistically significant superiority over BAK-tafluprost. The risk of hyperemia was statistically significantly lower with T2345 than with all the other PGA.

Treatment of refractory open-angle glaucoma using ultrasonic circular cyclocoagulation: a prospective case series

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the ultrasonic circular cyclocoagulation (UC3) procedure in patients with refractory primary open-angle glaucoma. Research design and methods: Prospective non-comparative interventional case series performed in two French glaucoma centers. Twenty-eight eyes of 28 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, intraocular pressure (IOP) >21 mmHg, an average of 1.4 failed previous surgeries and an average of 3.8 hypotensive medications were insonified with a therapy probe comprising six piezoelectric transducers. The six transducers were activated and all patients were treated with a 6 second exposure time. Complete ophthalmic examinations were performed before the procedure, and at 1 day, 1 week, 1, 2, 3, 6 and 12 months after. Main outcome measures: Primary outcomes were surgical success (defined as IOP reduction from baseline ≥20% and IOP >5 mmHg) at the last follow-up visit, and vision-threatening complications. Secondary outcomes were mean IOP at each follow-up visit compared to baseline, medication use, complications, and re-interventions. Results: IOP was significantly reduced (P < 0.05), from a mean preoperative value of 29.0 ± 7.2 mmHg (n = 3.8 hypotensive medications) to a mean value of 21.6 ± 9.4 mmHg at last follow-up (n = 3.8 hypotensive medications and n = 1.29 procedures) (mean IOP reduction of 26%). Complete success (IOP reduction >20% without re-intervention and without hypotensive medications adjunction) was achieved in 50% of eyes at last follow-up (mean IOP reduction of 45% in these same eyes) and qualified success (IOP reduction >20% with possible re-interventions) was achieved in 68% of eyes at last follow-up. No major intra- or post-operative complications occurred. Conclusions: UC3 procedure seems to be an effective and well tolerated method to reduce intraocular pressure in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. Studies directly comparing the efficacy and safety of the UC3 procedure with that of trabeculectomy or diode laser are needed.

Multicenter clinical trial of high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment in glaucoma patients without previous filtering surgery

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the ultrasonic circular cyclocoagulation procedure in patients with open‐angle glaucoma naïve of previous filtering surgery.