Alan S. Crandall, MD

CHICAGO — At the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting, Alan Crandall, MD, of Moran Eye Center, Utah, discusses using new tools and techniques to address the burden of cataract surgery in underserved communities.

It can be easy to forget sometimes how readily available ophthalmology clinics and services are in the Western world, but many regions of the world are without easy access to eye care, have populations that cannot readily afford medication for chronic conditions such as glaucoma, and have low patient compliance with medical advice because of these socioeconomic issues. Such is the case in Ghana, where some research authorities consider glaucoma a “surgical disease” because surgery is thought to have more favorable outcomes in controlling IOP and medications may be cost-prohibitive for some communities and families. Estimates say almost 30% of Ghanaians live below the international poverty line of $1.25 per day.

"Pseudoexfoliation increases the incidence of developing cataracts, weakens the zonules and capsules and leads to more serious complications during cataract surgery."— Alan S. Crandall, MD

Three drugs for glaucoma received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in March. Travatan (travoprost, Alcon) and Lumigan (bimatoprost, Allergan) have entered the crowded glaucoma therapeutics market, and Alphagan P (brimonidine tartrate, Allergan) will soon join them.