Efficacy of Ologen matrix implant in Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Implantation.

To determine the efficacy and safety of the Ologen collagen matrix adjunctive to Ahmed valve surgery. A randomized prospective multicentre clinical trial involving 58 patients that were followed for one year. Conventional surgery with Ahmed valve was performed in 31 eyes (Control group/CG) and in 27 Ologen (Ologen group/OG) was placed over the valve's plate. Baseline data: age, corneal thickness, intraocular pressure(IOP) and antiglaucoma medications.Postoperative data (days 1, 7 and months 1, 3, 6 and 12): IOP, antiglaucoma medications, visual acuity and complications were recorded. Frequency of hypertensive phase, complete and qualified success and survival rate were studied. No differences were found between CG and OG in the baseline data. The only difference between groups was a significantly lower IOP at day 1. No other differences were found in the follow-up between groups. Hypertensive phase (56%CG and 55%OG, p = 0,947), complete success 28,6%CG and 30,4%OG (p = 0,88) and qualified success 96,4% and 95,9%(p = 0,794). Survival rates at 1 year were 76,7%(CG) and 69,2%(OG)(p = 0,531). 38,7% of patients in the CG suffered some complication during follow-up and 61,5% in OG(p = 0,086). Ologen does not increase safety or efficacy in Ahmed valve surgery at one-year follow-up. This is the first study that shows no benefit of Ologen adjunctive to this surgery.

Lifestyles guide and glaucoma (i). Sports and activities. / Guía de estilos de vida y glaucoma (i). Deporte y actividades.

PURPOSES: The increase in quality and life expectancy, often leads to many patients asking the glaucoma specialist whether some sports, activities or hobbies would affect their illness. The aim of this article is to establish guidelines for patients, based on the scientific evidence of published papers. METHODS: Review of all published articles on glaucoma and sports or other activities. The papers were classified according to the level of scientific evidence based on the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine classification. RESULTS: Aerobic sports are beneficial for the patient. Yoga indoor sports or relaxation techniques should be avoided if Valsalva manoeuvres are performed or the head is placed very low. Also, the patients must avoid sudden changes in height. Intense heat does not seem to lead to progression of glaucoma, but intense cold can affect patients with vascular dysregulation. Activities using the near vision slightly reduce the intraocular pressure. The use of wind instruments may raise intraocular pressure, depending on the technique used. CONCLUSIONS: Certain sports and activities may have an influence on the onset or progression of glaucoma. Glaucoma specialists should have adequate information about the scientific evidence in the publications, in order to properly advise the patients.

Lifestyles guide and glaucoma (II). Diet, supplements, drugs, sleep, pregnancy, and systemic hypertension. / Guía de estilos de vida y glaucoma (II). Dieta, suplementos, drogas, sueño, embarazo e hipertensión arterial.

PURPOSE: To establish evidence based guidelines to advise patients on the relationship between habits, diet, certain circumstances, diseases and glaucoma. METHODS: Review of all published articles on glaucoma and sports or other activities. The papers were classified according to the level of scientific evidence based on the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine classification. RESULTS: The evidence on the relationship between diet or supplements and the incidence or progression of glaucoma is insufficient to make a general recommendation for glaucoma patients. Although some studies on normal tension glaucoma suggest that Gingko biloba could reduce glaucoma progression, the results do not allow a general recommendation for all these patients. Similarly, the evidence on the usefulness of vitamin supplements is not conclusive. The studies on smoking do not clearly demonstrate the relationship between this habit and incidence of glaucoma. Marihuana is not a useful treatment for glaucoma. Although the results on the relationship between sleep apnoea and glaucoma are heterogeneous, it is recommended that patients with moderate to intense apnoea are tested for glaucoma. Pregnancy does not influence the course of the disease, but several hypotensive drugs may be harmful for the foetus. Nocturnal systemic hypotension is a risk factor for glaucoma progression. CONCLUSIONS: Certain habits, circumstances, or diseases may have an influence on the onset or progression of glaucoma. It is important to have adequate information about the scientific evidence in the publications in order to properly advise patients.

Clinical, fundoscopic, tomographic and angiographic characteristics of dome shaped macula classified by bulge height. / Estudio de las características clínicas, fundoscópicas, tomográficas y angiográficas de la mácula en domo según la altura de protrusión macular.

OBJECTIVE: To classify dome shaped macula cases by their bulge height (BH). To analyse the characteristics associated with the groups formed by this classification. METHODS: Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study on 15 selected eyes with dome shaped macula and high myopia. Using Caillaux method and optical coherence tomography images, 3groups were determined by their BH: low (50-350 µ), medium (351-650 µ), and high (>650 µ), and a study of visual acuity, axial length, presence of subfoveal serous detachment, and images by fluorescein angiography and optic coherence tomography, as main variables. The confidence interval was 95%. RESULTS: By using the chi-squared test, the study showed that a BH higher than 400 µ was associated with lower visual acuity, presence of subfoveal serous detachment, and greater atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium measured by disc diameters (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The medium and high BH showed a positive correlation with the presence of foveal serous detachment and a lower visual acuity.

Guidelines for treatment of chronic primary angle-closure glaucoma.

OBJECTIVE: To present a clinical practice guideline update on the medical, laser, and surgical treatment of primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) in adults. METHODS: Following the formulation of key questions using the PICO scheme (Patient/Problem, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome), a systematic review was performed on the literature published to date, including international clinical practice guidelines. The AMSTAR and Risk of Bias tools were used for evaluating the quality of the information. The level of evidence and grade of recommendation was established following the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) system. RESULTS: Following the above methodology, recommendations of medical, laser and surgical treatment in adult PACG and levels of evidence are presented. CONCLUSIONS: Although the level of scientific evidence for many of the questions raised is not very high, a review is presented on updated treatment recommendations for adult PACG. Among the limitations for the implementation of these recommendations is that most studies have been conducted in Asian populations, and that the effectiveness is measured almost exclusively in terms of reducing intraocular pressure, and does not include visual function, quality of life or cost-effectiveness parameters.

Perioperative pharmacological management in patients with glaucoma.

REVIEWS AIM: When a phacoemulsification, a filtration surgery or a combined surgery are necessary, questions about the convenience of continuing certain antiglaucomatous drugs could appear. The aim of this review article is to unify criteria that will guide daily clinical practice and including the developing algorithms of action in the preoperative and postoperative periods of filtration surgery and/or cataract surgery. PROPOSED PROTOCOLS: In the preoperative period of cataract surgery, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is at the discretion of the surgeon, with the monodose presentation being recommended. The suspension of prostaglandines a fewdays before the surgery should be considered. Preservative-free drugs ensure a better recovery of the ocular surface (OS) after cataract surgery. Once all modifying factors of the intraocular pressure (IOP) have been removed, baseline IOP should be evaluated again, choosing preservative-free antiglaucomatous drugs when needed. The use of preservative-free ocular antihypertensive drugs and steroids in the preoperative period of glaucoma surgery reduces the risk of surgical failure. The interruption of prostaglandines is recommended. In the postoperative period of glaucoma surgery, steroids are the anti-inflammatory treatment of choice, the preservative-free ones being preferred. When reintroducing antiglaucomatous treatment, preservatives should be avoided to prevent scarring. The appropriate perioperative management of patients with glaucoma is essential to obtain a correct control of IOP, improve the situation of the OS, prevent complications and improve the result of the filtration surgery and cataract surgery. CONCLUSIONS: this protocol aims to unify the different lines of action in order to decrease the incidence of adverse events and maximize the surgical outcome.

[Beta-lactamic antibiotics allergy in cataract surgery. Prevalence and preoperative characteristics of allergic patients]. / Alergia a antibióticos ß-lactámicos en cirugía de cataratas. Prevalencia y características preoperatorias de los pacientes alérgicos.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the proportion of patients allergic to ß-lactam antibiotics and the prevalence of preoperative conjunctival bacteria among those undergoing cataract surgery in our area. METHOD: Retrospective cross-sectional study of prevalence of ß-lactam allergic patients consecutively scheduled for cataract surgery from 11 July 2005 to November 2012. For studying the prevalence of conjunctival bacteria and clinical characteristics in the patients' preoperative examination, those under 18 years and those with cataract surgery combined with other eye surgeries were excluded. Data from the first preoperative examination of the remaining patients were selected. Clinical data were extracted from the database generated in the evaluation made for anesthetic purposes, and the microbiological data from the laboratory database. Both bases were linked through a patient history code. A comparison was made between the prevalence of conjunctival bacteria and clinical characteristics in allergic and non-allergic patients. RESULTS: From 12,409 adults selected for the bacteriological study, 862 (6.96%) were allergic to ß-lactams, their mean age (74.45 years) was higher than that of the non-allergic (P=.005). The proportion of women (71.4%) in the allergic patient group was much higher than that of men. The prevalence of pathogenic bacteria (especially Bacillus spp and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), lung disease and heart failure, was higher in allergic patients. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of allergy to ß-lactams in this study is within the range described in other populations. The higher prevalence of pathogenic bacteria and the predominance of women in those allergic to ß-lactams are useful data to guide their surgical prophylaxis.

[Spectrum and susceptibility of preoperative conjunctival bacteria]. / Espectro y susceptibilidad de las bacterias conjuntivales preoperatorias.

PURPOSE: To describe the conjunctival bacterial spectrum of our patients undergoing intraocular surgery and their antibiotic sensitivity during the study period. METHODS: A retrospective study of preoperative conjunctival culture of patients consecutively scheduled for intraocular surgery from 21 February 2011 to 1 April 2013. Specimens were directly seeded onto blood-agar and MacConkey-agar (aerobiosis incubation, 2 days), and on chocolate-agar (6% CO2 incubation, 7 days). The identified bacteria were divided into 3 groups according to their origin; the bacteria susceptibility tests were performed on those more pathogenic and on some of the less pathogenic when more than 5 colonies were isolated. The sensitivity of the exigent growing bacteria was obtained with disk diffusion technique, and for of the non-exigent bacteria by determining their minimum inhibitory concentration. The Epidat 3.1 program was used for statistical calculations. RESULTS: A total of 13,203 bacteria were identified in 6,051 cultures, with 88.7% being typical colonizers of conjunctiva (group 1), 8.8% typical of airways (group 2), and the remaining 2.5% of undetermined origin (group 3). 530 cultures (8.8%) were sterile. The sensitivity of group 1 was: 99% vancomycin, 95% rifampicin, 87% chloramphenicol, 76% tetracycline. Levels of co-trimoxazole, aminoglycosides, quinolones, ß-lactams and macrolides decreased since 2007. The group 2 was very sensitive to chloramphenicol, cefuroxime, rifampicin, ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin/clavulanate. In group 3, to levofloxacin 93%, ciprofloxacin 89%, tobramycin 76%, but ceftazidime 53% and cefuroxime 29% decreased. CONCLUSIONS: None of the tested antibiotics could eradicate all possible conjunctival bacteria. Bacteria living permanently on the conjunctiva (group 1) have achieved higher resistance than the eventual colonizers.

Pathogenic conjunctival bacteria associated with systemic co-morbidities of patients undergoing cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To identify the risk of patients undergoing cataract surgery of having pathogenic conjunctival bacteria associated with their systemic co-morbidities. METHODS: Retrospective study of consecutive patients undergoing their first cataract operation from July 2005 to April 2010. Their preoperative conjunctival bacteria were cultured, identified, and classified in bacterial groups. Their co-morbidities were defined from their clinical data and the answers to systematic questions asked in the anaesthetic evaluation. The Microsoft Access databases of the two data sets were merged for carrying out the statistical analysis. Univariate association of each bacterial group with each co-morbidity was studied by using χ(2)-test for categorical data and Student's t-test for continuous variables. Also, logistic regression models were used adjusting for age and sex. SPSS statistic programme, version 18 was used for all these analyses. Endophthalmitis cases in this surgical series were searched. RESULTS: In the 8333 selected patients, age was associated with increased conjunctival bacteria in all groups except for Streptococcus pneumoniae and Propionibacteriae. However, male sex was associated with these two groups and also with coagulase-negative Staphylococci, Corynebacterium xerosis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Gram-negative rods. After adjusting for age and sex, S. aureus was associated with diabetes, lung diseases, and renal and heart insufficiency; Gram-negative rods with smoking habit; Enterococci with diabetes; Streptococcus pneumoniae with kyphoscoliosis; and other Streptococci with diabetes and handicapped patients. CONCLUSION: The more pathogenic conjunctival bacteria were more likely associated with patients' co-morbidities, such as diabetes, lung diseases, renal and heart insufficiency, kyphoscoliosis, and smoking habit, than the less pathogenic ones.

[Trabeculectomy and phacoemulsification. One site vs. two site approach. A comparative study]. / Trabeculectomía asociada a facoemulsificación. Incisión única frente a doble incisión independiente: estudio comparativo.

PURPOSE: To compare the results of combined phacotrabeculectomy by means of a one-site versus two-site approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study has been performed over 35 glaucomatous patients with a coexisting cataract, treated with a one-site (19 cases) or a two-site (16 cases) phacotrabeculectomy. First, effectiveness of both procedures has been proved by statisticly analysing the IOP and visual acuity changes after surgery. Normal distribution, homogeneity and homocedasticity from both groups have been checked. Finally, visual acuity and 6-month postoperatively IOP among both groups have been compared by means of a <>. RESULTS: No statistical differences among both procedures have been found (p>0.05). Also, postoperative complications were similar among groups. CONCLUSIONS: Combined trabeculectomy and phacoemulsification surgery is a useful treatment for glaucomatous patients with coexisting cataract, and provides good visual and ocular-pressure results. One-site and two-site surgical approachs provide the same six-month follow-up results.

[Corneal descompensation in patients with endothelial compromise treated with topical dorzolamide]. / Descompensación corneal en pacientes con compromiso endotelial tratados con dorzolamida tópica.

PURPOSE: To investigate the possibility of corneal alterations in patients with long-term endothelial compromise with topical dorzolamide. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective descriptive study of 17 patients with penetrating keratoplasty and glaucoma associated with topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor therapy, looking for coincidence with corneal alteration. RESULTS: Classified by ethiology, type of glaucoma and control, recording previous ophthalmological surgeries, evolution time, complications and rejection episodes. Seven patients suffered a corneal decompensation, in three of them there were signs of true reject but only four cases had edema at the beginning of dorzolamide treatment, one of them recovering after stopping dorzolamide. Risk factors were previous cataract surgery, mainly aphakia, filtering surgery and previous vitrectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Dorzolamide could have a potential negative effect on patients with endothelial compromise.