PARAS GUIDE TO GLAUCOMA Diagnosis, Treatment and Management of Glaucoma Desinee Drakulich O.D.
Dec 14, 2015
PARAS GUIDE TO GLAUCOMA
Diagnosis, Treatment and Management of Glaucoma
Desinee Drakulich O.D.
REVIEW What is Glaucoma?
A progressive optic neuropathy that damages retinal ganglion cells and other mechanisms in the visual pathway.
Retinal ganglion cells are very pressure sensitive and once damaged they do not regenerate.
REVIEW Eye Pressure- most people associate eye
pressure or Intraocular Pressure (IOP) with glaucoma.
Normal eye pressure is between 10 mmHg and 21 mmHg
Average is between 14 mmHg and 16 mmHg
Misconception is that the measured value is the pressure in the eye, it is actually the difference between the pressure in the eye and the atmospheric pressure.
Not all forms of glaucoma have IOPs > 21 mmHg
REVIEW Anatomy of the Eye
REVIEW Types of Glaucoma
Primary Open Angle GlaucomaAngle Closure GlaucomaLow Tension GlaucomaPigmentary GlaucomaExfoliative GlaucomaAcute GlaucomaCongenital GlaucomaSecondary Glaucoma
Traumatic Glaucoma
LOW TENSION GLAUCOMA Most difficult to diagnose Patient have IOPs in the normal range Thought to be caused by poor blood
flow to the optic nerve New research is answering some
questions In the past, diagnosis was made with
the appearance of visual field loss. With scanning laser technology normal
tension patients are often caught before visual field damage appears
PRIMARY OPEN ANGLE The most common form of glaucoma in
African Americans and Caucasians. Approximately 1% of Americans have
this form of glaucoma. Most common form in people over the
age of 50. Defined as increased intraocular
pressure inconsistent with a health optic nerve and consistent with an open angle of aqueous drainage.
HOW TO DETECT POAG Increased IOP > 21 mmHg Thin central corneal thickness > 555 um Peripapillary Atrophy Notching or thinning of the neuroretinal
rim Family History Large cup to disc ratio
ANGLE CLOSURE GLAUCOMA Affect about half a million people in the
US Tends to be inherited Affects Asians and hyperopes most
frequently Anterior chamber smaller than average Angle < 45 degrees Iris forced up against trabecular
meshwork causes complete closure or an acute glaucoma attack
Age can be a factor due to increasing size of the lens of the eye
HOW DO WE TREAT POAG Medication Drops Laser Treatments Surgery
HOW TO DETECT ACG
WHAT CAN OPTOMETRIST DO? Optometrist can detect and treatment
POAG in adults with drops. If pressure and vision loss can not be
controlled with drop referrals must be made to Ophthalmology for laser or surgical consideration.
CURRENT TYPES OF GLAUCOMA DROPS Cholinergics Beta Blockers Alpha Agonists Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors Prostaglandins
CHOLINERGICS Older method of treating glaucoma
rarely used anymore. Two major drugs: Pilocarpine and
Carbachol How do they work?
They constrict the pupil increasing drainage out of the trabecular meshwork in the angle of the eye.
Side effects included decrease vision in dim lighting and headaches
BETA BLOCKERS Also an older method of treating
Glaucoma however still commonly used today
Most commonly used drops are: Timolol, Betoptic and Betagan.
How do they work? Decrease the production of aqueous
Side effects include decreased heart rate, decreased pulse, fatigue and shortness of breath. Caution with people with Asthma or COPD and people currently taking Beta Blockers for BP control.
ALPHA AGONISTS Newer method of glaucoma treatment. Two different drops available: Iopidine
and Alphagan P How to they work? Both decreasing
aqueous production and increasing outflow of aqueous. Also considered a neuroprotective agent.
Side effects include fatigue, headache and dry mouth.
CARBONIC ANHYDRASE INHIBITORS Commonly used for patients who can’t
take Beta Blockers Two drops available and one oral
medication: Azopt, Trusopt and Diamox. Optometrists in NE can’t Rx Diamox.
How do they work? Decrease the production of aqueous.
Side effects include tingling or loss of strength of the hands and feet, upset stomach, mental fuzziness, memory problems, depression, kidney stones, and frequent urination.
COMBINATION DROPS Relatively new, good for patient who
drop want to do multiple drops per day. Two types of drops: Combigan and
Cosept Combigan is Alphagan and Timolol. Cosept is Trusopt and Timolol How to they work? Both increase
outflow and decrease production Side effects are the same as the
individual drugs.
PROSTAGLANDINS Newest method of treating glaucoma
considered the DOC of glaucoma medication.
Three major drops: Xalatan, Lumigan and Travatan
How do they work? Increase drainage of the aqueous via and uveal scleral pathway.
Side effects include iris pigment change, redness in eye, stinging and itching.
SO WHAT IS THE BEST DROP? Current studies from the Review of
Optometry March 2009 show that the DOC is still Xalatan.