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Glaucoma trials affect clinical practice in varying ways
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Interpretation of trial results factors into the impact of randomized clinical trials on glaucoma practice, according to a survey.
The electronic survey was sent to members of the American Glaucoma Society, and a 5-point Likert scale was used to rate responses.
Among the 206 survey respondents, the mean scores for the overall clinical impact of each of eight randomized clinical trials were as follows: Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study, 4.47; Collaborative Normal Tension Glaucoma, 4.13; Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study, 3.78; Tube Versus Trabeculectomy Study, 3.53; Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial, 3.48; Collaborative Initial Glaucoma Treatment Study, 3.44; Glaucoma Laser Trial, 3.39; and European Glaucoma Prevention Study, 2.69.
There was a tendency for randomized controlled trials to have less clinical impact if the results showed no difference between randomized treatment groups.
Furthermore, in response to survey questions posed in context to the findings of the eight studies, 99% of respondents said that they routinely check central cornea thickness, more than 80% said they aim to lower IOP by 30% for patients with normal-tension glaucoma and repeat visual fields to confirm or refute possible progression, and nearly 70% feel that laser trabeculectomy is as safe and effective as medical therapy, but only 43% would recommend it as a first-line treatment.
Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.
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