Glaucoma triage system: results of implementing a virtual clinic.

PURPOSE: This study describes the virtual clinic triage system implementation process at Hospital Santa Maria-Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte (HSM-CHULN) and analyzes its results regarding healthcare outcomes for the patients and the system. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed, comparing two cohorts (pre-virtual cohort; virtual triage cohort). Outcomes related to waiting time, number of hospital visits, decisions at first contact, and ancillary exam-based decisions were reported. RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety-two charts were reviewed (pre-virtual cohort: 132; virtual cohort: 160). Mean waiting time between referral and the first medical contact with the glaucoma department decreased on average by 71.3 days (human contact: 286.6 days; virtual triage contact: 215.3 days). Triage system significantly decreased waiting time for glaucoma patients, with an average decrease of 326.8 days between referral and treatment decision. Triage staging allowed to label 107 (66.9; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 59.6%, 74.2%) as non-urgent; 30 (18.8%; 95% CI: 12.7%, 24.9%) as urgent, and 23 (14.3%; 95% CI: 8.9%, 19.7%) as immediate contact, with the scheduling of future appointments reflecting National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines in every patient. Moreover, the number of visits to perform the same exams and obtain the same clinical decisions was reduced by 63.6%. CONCLUSION: Our virtual screening strategy significantly decreased waiting time, number of hospital visits, and increased chances of data-assisted clinical decision. While results can be further improved, this system can add value in an overburdened healthcare system, where triage systems with remote decision-making may be valuable tools in optimizing glaucoma care, even without allocation of extra resources.

Topical corticosteroids with topical cyclosporine A versus topical corticosteroids alone for immunological corneal graft rejection.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and safety of supplementing topical cyclosporine A (CsA) to topical corticosteroids (CS), in the prophylaxis and treatment of corneal graft rejection following penetrating keratoplasty (PK). METHODS: Meta-analysis. Search was performed in PubMed, CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov, reference lists of articles and conference proceedings. Primary outcomes: 1-year rejection-free survival rate (prophylaxis); resolution rate of rejection episodes (treatment). Secondary outcomes: 6- and 24-month rejection-free graft survival rate, number of rejection episodes during follow-up, time-to-resolution of rejection episode, 12- and 24-months graft survival rate, adverse events. Subgroup analyses were planned for high-risk grafts; primary vs. secondary prophylaxis of graft rejection episodes; and CsA concentrations of 0.05%, 1%, and 2%. RESULTS: Five studies of moderate methodological quality were included (one retrospective, four RCT), assessing 459 eyes (CS + CsA 226, CS 233). In the prophylaxis setting, supplemental CsA was associated with a higher rejection-free survival rate at 12-months (RR 1.25, 95% CI: 1.00-1.56, p = 0.05) and 24-months post-PK (RR 1.56, 95% CI: 1.15-2.11, p < 0.01), though no differences were found at the 6-months timepoint (p = 0.93). This effect was mostly verified using CsA 2% in the high-risk subset of patients. In the treatment setting, no differences were found in the resolution rate of rejection episodes (p = 0.23). No differences existed on drug-related adverse events. CONCLUSION: In the prophylaxis of rejection episodes post-PK, the combined regimen of CS + CsA was associated with a higher 1- and 2-year rejection-free graft survival rate. Subgroup analysis mostly supported the use of CsA 2% for high-risk grafts. Further studies are needed to validate these results.

Needling after XEN gel implant: What's the efficacy? A 1-year analysis.

PURPOSE: To analyse the long-term efficacy and safety of bleb needling in glaucoma patients previously submitted to XEN implantation. METHODS: Retrospective, observational study. Charts from patients who underwent XEN gel implant surgery between October 2015 and December 2017 were reviewed. Needling protocol involves use of Mitomycin C 0.2 mg/mL in an operating room. Primary outcome was defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering efficacy at 12 months post-operative. Complete success was defined as a decrease in IOP > 20% and overall value <18 mmHg. Secondary outcomes included safety parameters (both intra and post-operative). Exploratory analysis of predictive factors for success were performed. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 24. RESULTS: About 94 charts were reviewed, with 18 patients (19%) having undergone needle revision. This salvage procedure was performed after 3.3 ± 3.4 months, achieving a mean IOP reduction of 8.3 ± 8.4 mmHg at 12 months after the procedure (pre-needling: 24.0 ± 5.2 mmHg vs 12th month: 13.5 ± 5.9 mmHg, p < 0.0001). Accordingly, success was achieved in 72% (complete success in 61% of cases). Among predictive factors, there was a higher tendency for success in patients on two types of medications or fewer pre-operatively, cases of standalone XEN surgery and patients with a higher IOP difference pre-needling - day 1. No vision-threatening complications were recorded. CONCLUSION: XEN salvage procedure with mitomycin C is a valid option in early bleb failure. This single intervention had a long-lasting effect on bleb survival, with almost two-thirds achieving long term significant drop-free IOP reduction.

Impact of laser iridotomy on headache symptoms in angle-closure subjects.

BACKGROUND: Migraine symptoms are frequently referred by glaucoma patients. Although most studies analyze headache in the acute setting of angle closure, many patients with chronic occludable angles also complain of headaches. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) on the magnitude and frequency of headache symptoms in patients with occludable angles. METHODS: Prospective cohort study. Patients with indication for prophylactic LPI due to occludable iridocorneal angle were included. Headache symptoms were assessed before and at least 4 weeks after LPI using the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) questionnaire. A HIT-6 score of ≥ 50 points was labeled as a clinically significant headache. RESULTS: Thirty-one subjects were included. Prophylactic LPI was performed in 60 eyes, as 2 patients were pseudophakic in the fellow eye. Baseline HIT-6 score was 59.9 ± 11.8, with over three quarters of these patients scoring higher than 50 points (n = 24). A statistically significant reduction in HIT-6 score was found after LPI treatment (45.4 ± 7.7, p < 0.01). Sub-analysis within the clinically symptomatic subjects disclosed a significant improvement after treatment in this group (baseline, 65.3 ± 6.2 vs post-LPI 46.2 ± 8.3, p < 0.01), with a high baseline HIT-6 score being predictive of a symptomatic improvement after LPI (χ2(8) = 15.3, p = 0.001). This is mimicked from the patient's perspective, as the two subjective questions after LPI, concerning pain intensity and frequency, report that 79.2% had a statistically significant improvement of the headaches. CONCLUSIONS: Within our sample, the majority of patients with occludable angles had clinically relevant headaches. LPI provided symptomatic relief in the majority of those patients with high HIT-6 scores. Further studies are needed to explore the relationships between headache and angle anatomy.