Treatment Preferences and Factors Influencing the Management of Primary Angle-Closure Suspect in China: A National Survey Study.

INTRODUCTION: This study explored the current views of ophthalmologists in China on the preferred strategy and the primary influencing factors in managing primary angle-closure suspect (PACS). METHODS: An online survey was distributed via WeChat to ophthalmologists working in hospitals at all levels throughout China to investigate the optimal management strategy and factors influencing the strategy for treating PACS from February to March 2023. Management strategies examined included regular observation (RO), laser peripheral iridectomy (LPI), and phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation (PEI). The study explored the factors that influenced clinical decision-making processes and collected demographic information from the respondents for analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1009 ophthalmologists responded; 442 responders considered RO as a reasonable option for patients with PACS, while the majority opted for more positive treatments, with 460 choosing LPI and 107 selecting PEI. Further grouping analysis revealed significant differences between tertiary and lower-level hospitals (P < 0.01) and between public and private hospitals (P < 0.05). Significant differences were found among resident, attending, and senior doctors and between northern and southern hospitals. The top three considerations for ophthalmologists who selected RO were ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) without pupillary block, absence of a family history of glaucoma, and good compliance with regular follow-up. For LPI, the factors were UBM indicating pupillary block, glaucoma symptoms, and poor compliance with regular follow-up. For PEI the factors were age, family history of glaucoma, and poor compliance with regular follow-up. CONCLUSION: The majority of ophthalmologists prefer aggressive treatments such as LPI or PEI over RO when dealing with patients with PACS. Disparity existed among ophthalmologists based on their level of experience, hospital ownership and level, and geographical location. The survey underscores the complexity and multifactorial nature of PACS management and highlights the need for further research and standardization of treatment protocols to ensure optimal patient outcomes.

Evaluation of the learning curve of laser peripheral iridectomy: the 20th case reaches the turning point.

AIM: To explore the learning curve for ophthalmologists at the start of laser peripheral iridectomy (LPI) training. METHODS: The learning curve of 4 doctor groups without previous LPI experience was studied. Three main parameters of LPI were reviewed: total energy, argon energy and neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) energy. Procedures were evaluated in cohorts of 20 cases to identify the turning points of the three variables. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in terms of age or eye among the 4 doctor groups. There were stable trends on the learning curve for the Doctor A and C groups regarding total energy and argon energy. In addition, the turning points on the learning curve were determined after the 20th procedure for the Doctor B and D groups regarding total energy and argon energy. Moreover, the Nd:YAG energy was relatively stable since the first procedure. CONCLUSION: It requires approximately 20 procedures for a beginner to reach a turning point on the learning curve regarding LPI. It can serve as a point of reference or guideline for training beginners to perform LPI.

Combined laser peripheral iridectomy for primary angle-closure glaucoma / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#AIM: To investigate the clinical effect of combined laser peripheral iridectomy for primary angle-closure glaucoma.<p>METHODS: A total of 82 eyes were included in 82 patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma who visited our hospital from August 2015 to October 2017. They were randomly divided into two groups. Patients in the simple laser group were performed Nd:YAG laser only. In the combined laser group, 532 semiconductor laser combined with Nd: YAG laser were used for laser peripheral iridectomy. Intraocular pressure(IOP)was measured preoperative and postoperative. Laser energy was recorded. Iridemia were observed.<p>RESULTS: Postoperative IOP increased significantly in the simple laser group compared with the combined laser group, and the differences between the two groups 1h, 1d and 1wk after operation were statistical significances(<i>P</i><0.01). The IOP of the two groups was basically restored to the preoperative level at 1mo postoperatively. The success rate of single laser surgery was significantly lower than that of combined laser surgery(73% <i>vs </i>100%, <i>P</i><0.05). The total energy of Nd:YAG laser was significantly higher than that of the combined laser group(40.16±13.43mJ <i>vs</i> 23.23±6.70mJ, <i>P</i><0.05). There was no significant difference in intraoperative iris bleeding rate between the two groups(33% <i>vs</i> 26%, <i>P</i>>0.05).<p>CONCLUSION: Totally 532 semiconductor laser combined with Nd: YAG laser for peripheral iridectomy has a high rate of penetration, especially for patients without iris recess. It can significantly decreases laser energy, reduces the difficulty of laser operation and relieves intraocular inflammation.

Effect of laser peripheral iridotomy using argon and neodymium-YAG lasers on corneal endothelial cell density: 7-year longitudinal evaluation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes in corneal endothelial cell density (ECD) over a 7-year period after laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) using argon and neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) lasers. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Eyes that underwent prophylactic LPI using argon and Nd:YAG lasers were followed up for 7 years. Central corneal endothelial cells were observed by use of noncontact specular microscopy preoperatively and at 1 and 7 years postoperatively. Changes in ECD and the associations between preoperative ECD and the total energy of the Nd:YAG laser were evaluated. RESULTS: Fifty-one eyes of 51 patients were followed up for 7 years. The ECD significantly decreased after LPI (P < 0.049), and the reduction rate at 1 year after the surgery (1.69 ± 4.80%, 95% CI: 0.34%-3.04%) was significantly higher than the annual reduction rates after 1 year (0.17 ± 0.85%/y, P = 0.036, 95% CI: -0.07% to 0.41%). No association was found between the preoperative ECD and the total laser energy. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term evaluation indicated that the reduction in ECD after argon-Nd:YAG laser LPI was present but small during the initial year and was negligible after 1 year.

Clinical observation of 3 minutes dark-room provocative test in patients with laser peripheral iridectomy in the fellow eyes of acute angle-closure glaucoma / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM:To observe related biological parameters of 3 minutes dark-room provocative test in patients with laser peripheral iridectomy(LPI) in the fellow eyes of acute primary angle-closure (APAC) by ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM).To explore the risk factors in primary angle closure suspect(PACS) patients with progressive angle closure after LPI.METHODS: Seventy-eight eyes of APAC patients without peripheral anterior synechia were selected.Each eye underwent 3 minutes dark-room provocative test after LPI.Anterior segment parameters, including anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber angle open distance500 (AOD500), peripheral iris thickness (PIT), iris convex (IC), the position of iris insertion and trabecular-ciliary process distance (TCPD), and the number of positional angle closure(NPAC) were observed and analyzed by statistic methods.RESULTS:Patients with APAC were examined by UBM after LPI and 26 eyes(33%) occurs at least one positional angle closure,19 eyes(24%)were positive in 3 minutes dark-room provocative test among them.It occurs a positive relationship between the elevation intraocular pressure and the number of positional angle closure in dark-room provocative test(r=0.84, P<0.01).AOD500, IT and IC were significantly changed from normal light to darkroom between positional angle closure positive group and positional angle closure negative group(all P<0.01).In single factor analysis, AOD500(P=0.003), IT(P=0.012), IC(P=0.043), TPCD(P=0.015), the position of iris insertion(P=0.024) were correlative factors of positive results.In multiple-factor analysis, only IT(P=0.011), TPCD(P=0.009), iris root attachment points(P=0.02) were independent risk factors of positive results.CONCLUSION:A certain proportion of patients with PACS after LPI appeared positional angle closure in a dark room.Peripheral iris hypertrophy, anterior displacement of the ciliary body and iris root attachment points are vital risk factors.Long-term follow-up study and intervention treatment are required in these patients after LPI.

Laser peripheral iridoplasty combined with iridectomy for the unmanageable acute angle-closure glaucoma by medication / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To investigate the effect and safety of laser peripheral iridoplasty combined with iridectomy in the unmanageable acute angle - closure glaucoma by medication. METHODS:Totally 19 cases (21 eyes) with acute angle-closure glaucoma, including 15 cases ( 17 eyes ) with primary glaucoma and 4 cases (4 eyes) with intumescent cataract - induced glaucoma, were recruited into the study. The intraocular pressure ( IOP ) of all cases were still >21mmHg after 24h drug treatment, and then were treated by laser peripheral iridoplasty combined with iridectomy. The visual accurity, IOP, cornea, peripheral anterior chamber depth, anterior chamber angle and complications were observed at 24h after the surgery. RESULTS:The mean IOP of all cases was reduced from 53. 09±11. 01mmHg before the surgery to 14. 98±4. 21mmHg at 24h after the treatment, with significant statistical difference ( P CONCLUSION: Laser peripheral iridoplasty combined with iridectomy is an effective and safe method for the treatment of the unmanageable acute angle - closure glaucoma by medication.