Trends in Acute Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma, Peripheral Iridotomy and Cataract Surgery in Scotland, 1998-2012.

PURPOSE: We present rates of acute primary angle-closure glaucoma (APACG), peripheral iridotomy (PI) and cataract surgery in Scotland between 1998 and 2012. METHODS: The number of patients in Scotland with APACG in each of the years between 1998 and 2012 was obtained from Information Service Division (ISD) Scotland. Data was also obtained for patients who had undergone laser PI and cataract surgery. The annual rates of APACG, PI and cataract surgery were calculated using Scotland's population data during each of these years. RESULTS: Between 1998 and 2012 the rate of APACG in National Health Service patients decreased by 46.4% (from 46.7 to 25.0 per million, p < 0.005). The rate of PI increased overall by 116.3% (from 38.0 to 82.2 per million), but demonstrated a decrease of 48.2% (38.0 to 19.7 per million, p = 0.002) between 1998 and 2008, and an increase of 317.3% (19.7 to 82.2 per million, p = 0.005) between 2008 and 2012. Over the same 15-year period, cataract surgery increased by 73.4% (from 354.2 to 615.2 per 100,000, p < 0.005). In this timeframe, mid-year Scottish population estimates increased by 4.6%. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate a significant reduction in the rate of APACG in the Scottish population between 1998 and 2012, along with a rising rate of PI and cataract surgery. The trend of decreasing APACG may be due to the increasing rate of cataract surgery in the same time period. This parallels patterns seen in other European countries. We discuss these findings together with other related epidemiological factors.

Same-Day Bilateral Glaucoma Laser Treatments in Ontario: 2000 to 2013.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze trends in bilateral, same-day laser iridotomies, and trabeculoplasties in Ontario over the last decade. METHODS: Ontario Health Insurance Plan billing service claims between 2000 and 2013 were analyzed for the yearly number of glaucoma laser procedures. The annual number of Ontarians with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) was estimated by applying composite prevalence curves to published population data and the yearly number of procedures per 1000 Ontarians with POAG was calculated. RESULTS: The volume of same-day bilateral trabeculoplasties increased from 15.3 per 1000 with POAG in 2000 to 74.7 in 2013 (4.9-fold). The proportion that were same-day bilateral procedures increased from 22.7% in 2000 to 40.2% in 2004 (76.9% increase) and remained stable from 2009 to 2013, reaching 38.5% in 2013. The number of same-day bilateral laser iridotomies increased from 3126 in 2000 to 11,716 in 2013 (3.75-fold). The proportion of iridotomies that were bilateral increased from 39% in 2000 to 54.6% in 2006 (40% increase) and remained stable from 2006 to 2013, reaching 56.7% in 2013. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in same-day bilateral trabeculoplasties coincided with the introduction of selective laser trabeculoplasty. The proportion of this practice remained constant for the last 3 years of the study period. In 2013, 56.7% of iridotomies and 38.5% of trabeculoplasties were performed as same-day bilateral procedures. We recommend comparison studies between same-day and sequential laser therapies to assess complication rates and patient satisfaction to provide an evidence-based treatment approach, as there are limited data to support this practice.

Trends in glaucoma surgical procedures in Ontario: 1992-2012.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze trends in the surgical management of glaucoma in Ontario over the past 2 decades. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of health records. METHODS: Ontario Health Insurance Plan billing service claims between 1992 and 2012 were analyzed for the yearly number of glaucoma laser and incisional surgical procedures. The yearly number of Ontarians with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) was estimated by applying composite prevalence curves to published population data and the yearly number of procedures per 1000 Ontarians with POAG was calculated. RESULTS: Per 1000 people with POAG, laser trabeculoplasty (LT) rates increased nearly 2-fold (185%) from 1992 to 2012, with the rates stabilizing between 2008 and 2012, and total glaucoma filtration procedure (GFP) rates (trabeculectomy, aqueous shunts, and combined GFP and cataract extraction) in 2012 were similar to those in 1992, with a peak rate noted in 1996. Shunts represented 0.9% of GFP in 1992 and 33% in 2012. Data for combination codes billed on the same day for the same patient were available from 2000. From 2000 to 2012 the rates of trabeculectomy alone remained unchanged, the number of aqueous shunts alone increased more than 5-fold, combined trabeculectomy and cataract extraction decreased 81%, whereas combined shunts and cataract extraction increased from 6 in 2000 to 420 in 2012. Combined aqueous shunts and cataract extraction represented 0.4% of combined cataract extractions in 2000 and 26.3% in 2012. CONCLUSIONS: Over the past 2 decades there was an overall increase in the rate of LT, no change in the rate of trabeculectomies, and a significant increase in aqueous shunt surgery.

Use of Various Glaucoma Surgeries and Procedures in Medicare Beneficiaries from 1994 to 2012.

PURPOSE: Determine how procedural treatments for glaucoma have changed between 1994-2012. DESIGN: Retrospective, observational analysis. PARTICIPANTS: Medicare Part B beneficiaries. METHODS: We analyzed Medicare fee-for-service paid claims data between 1994-2012 to determine the number of surgical/laser procedures performed for glaucoma in the Medicare population each year. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of glaucoma-related procedures performed. RESULTS: Trabeculectomies in eyes without previous scarring decreased 52% from 54 224 in 1994 to 25 758 in 2003, and a further 52% to 12 279 in 2012. Trabeculectomies in eyes with scarring ranged from 9054 to 13 604 between 1994-2003, but then decreased 48% from 11 018 to 5728 between 2003-2012. Mini-shunts done via an external approach (including ExPRESS [Alcon Inc, Fort Worth, TX]) increased 116% from 2718 in 2009 to 5870 in 2012. The number of aqueous shunts to the extraocular reservoir increased 231% from 2356 in 1994 to 7788 in 2003, and a further 54% to 12 021 in 2012. Total cyclophotocoagulation procedures increased 253% from 2582 in 1994 to 9106 in 2003, and a further 54% to 13 996 in 2012. Transscleral cyclophotocoagulations decreased 45% from 5978 to 3268 between 2005-2012; over the same period, the number of endoscopic cyclophotocoagulations (ECPs) increased 99% from 5383 to 10 728. From 2001 to 2005, the number of trabeculoplasties more than doubled from 75 647 in 2001 to 176 476 in 2005, but since 2005 the number of trabeculoplasties decreased 19% to 142 682 in 2012. The number of laser iridotomies was fairly consistent between 1994-2012, increasing 9% over this period and ranging from 63 773 to 85 426. Canaloplasties increased 1407% from 161 in 2007 to 2426 in 2012. Between 1994-2012, despite a 9% increase in beneficiaries, the total number of glaucoma procedures and the number of glaucoma procedures other than laser procedures decreased 16% and 31%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the increase in beneficiaries, the number of glaucoma procedures performed decreased. Glaucoma procedures demonstrating a significant increase in use include canaloplasty, mini-shunts (external approach), aqueous shunt to extraocular reservoir, and ECP. Trabeculectomy use continued its long-term downward trend. The continued movement away from trabeculectomy and toward alternative intraocular pressure-lowering procedures highlights the need for well-designed clinical trials comparing these procedures.

Comparison of 2007-2012 Korean trends in laser peripheral iridotomy and cataract surgery rates.

PURPOSE: To investigate the association between the trends in the rates of laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) for primary angle closure (PAC) or primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) and cataract surgery in Korea. METHODS: Acute or subacute PAC(G) patients (251,769) along with patients who had undergone LPI (20,632) or cataract surgery (1,163,729) between 2007 and 2012 were included. The LPI rate was defined as the number of LPI cases per 100 PAC(G) patients by quarter; the cataract surgery rate was defined as the number of cataract surgeries per 100,000 population by quarter. RESULTS: The number of acute or subacute PAC(G) patients per 100,000 population showed a gradual increase, specifically from 45.63 in the first quarter of 2007 to 49.56 in the second quarter of 2012. The LPI rate manifested a slow decline, from 9.59 to 7.94, and the cataract surgery rate showed a sharp rise, from 260.75 to 387.53, over the same period. In other words, a negative correlation tendency between the two rate trends (r = -0.244, P = 0.273) was revealed. With respect to age, significant negative correlations were observed in the 40-49 (r = -0.488, P = 0.021) and ≥ 70 (r = -0.450, P = 0.036) groups. CONCLUSIONS: The respective trends in the LPI and cataract surgery rates showed a negative correlation. Although other possible explanations might exist, this result supports the hypothesis that cataract surgery contributes to a reduction in the incidence of LPI in PAC(G) patients.

[Primary phacoemulsification following acute primary angle closure glaucoma]. / Primäre Phakoemulsifikation nach akutem Winkelblock.

Recent developments and clinical studies indicate that primary phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation are safe and effective for the surgical treatment of primary angle closure glaucoma (ACG) compared to conventional iridectomy or laser-iridotomy. When compared to control eyes treated using standard peripheral iridectomy, the outcome in terms of intraocular pressure control, adjunct anti-glaucoma medication, visual acuity, and the necessity for successive surgical interventions favored primary phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation. Earlier biometric data underline the importance of the "lens factor" in the pathogenesis of relative pupillary block in ACG obtained by Scheimflug image processing and ultrasound biomicroscopy. The vast improvements in modern cataract surgery combined with our current understanding of the pathogenesis of relative pupillary block in ACG indicate that lens extraction is a better procedure in uncontrolled angle closure glaucoma than conventional iridectomy.