World Glaucoma Week stresses early detection

This week is World Glaucoma Week, a collaboration between the World Glaucoma Association and the World Glaucoma Patient Association to bring awareness to the importance of regular eye checks to detect glaucoma in its early stages.

This year’s theme is “Green = Go get your eyes tested for glaucoma: Save your sight!”

In honor of the week, Healio.com/OSN is highlighting some of the top news out of glaucoma meetings. In recent weeks, the Glaucoma 360: New Horizons Forum took place in San Francisco and the American Glaucoma Society annual meeting was held in New York.

Here are the most-read articles or most-watched videos from each of those meetings.

American Glaucoma Society meeting

1. Early follow-up after Xen implantation needed

Nearly 80% of patients who received a Xen gel stent with IOP-lowering topical medication after surgery experienced an IOP of less than 18 mm Hg, but early interventions were needed in 20% of patients. Read more.

2. Machine learning may open new opportunities for telemedicine, screening

Advances in optic disc analysis software may soon offer new possibilities for telemedicine and screening patients for early signs of disease. Read more.

3. Rhopressa maintains noninferiority to timolol in trial

Once-daily Rhopressa treatment for patients with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma consistently demonstrated IOP-lowering effects over 6 months and was noninferior to timolol. Read more.

4. VIDEO: Tips on reducing red eyes in glaucoma patients

Peter E. Libre, MD, discusses how hot compresses to enhance meibomian gland function, selective laser trabeculoplasty to reduce the need for IOP-lowering drops and use of preservative-free medications all help reduce red eyes in glaucoma patients. Watch here.

5. Cheapest glaucoma therapies unaffordable in developing countries

Timolol was the cheapest glaucoma therapy in 38 countries examined but was unaffordable for patients in several developing countries throughout the world, according to a study. Read more.

Glaucoma 360 : New Horizons Forum

1. VIDEO: nGoggle allows assessment of brain function using virtual reality

Felipe Medeiros, MD, PhD, professor of ophthalmology at Duke University, discusses the development of the nGoggle, a device that merges virtual reality goggle technology with electroencephalogram technology to help assess visual function. Watch here.

2. VIDEO: Heidelberg showcases Spectralis at Glaucoma 360

Kfir Azoulay, vice president and head of corporate strategy at Heidelberg Engineering, discusses the Spectralis imaging platform. Watch here.

3. VIDEO: Aerie ramps up marketing for Rhopressa

Tom Mitro, president and chief operating officer of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, discusses the build-out the company is performing to ramp up for the commercial launch of Rhopressa for the treatment of glaucoma and gives an update on clinical trials of Roclatan. Watch here.

4. VIDEO: Interventional glaucoma treatment: A needed paradigm shift

Ike K. Ahmed, MD, kicked off the Glaucoma 360: New Horizons Forum with the Drs. Henry and Frederick Sutro Memorial Lecture, in which he talked about interventional glaucoma treatment ushering in a new and disruptive approach to glaucoma treatment. Watch here.

5. VIDEO: Santen reaffirms commitment to glaucoma treatment

Ram Palanki, PharmD, senior vice president of the Americas commercial for Santen, discusses the company’s pipeline in glaucoma therapy and clinical trials taking place globally. Watch here.