All Roads Lead to Rome - Updates from the World Glaucoma Congress

Glaucoma specialists from all over the world descend on Rome for the World Glaucoma Congress

Updates from the World Glaucoma Congress

Last week I had the opportunity to present some of my latest research at the World Glaucoma Congress in Rome.  This was a very well attended meeting with glaucoma specialists from all over the world congregating in Rome. 

The three main areas that caught my attention as having had significant progress over the past twelve months. 

1. The first one is the improvement and advancements in artificial intelligence and deep learning, both to improve diagnosis as well as treatment algorithms for glaucoma. Our research team have recently published a paper where we have used artificial intelligence and deep learning to act as a clinical decision support system to help surgeons to decide what would be the most appropriate surgical intervention for an individual patient.  We hope to replicate this study on a larger database as part of a multicentre study and I will keep you updated.
2. The second area of exciting development was in the space of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery. Over the last twelve months there has become increased long-term evidence on this type of surgery showing excellent efficacy as well as safety, with studies now reporting up to seven-year outcomes.   Again our research group have recently published our surgical outcomes in minimally invasive glaucoma surgery in a leading ophthalmology journal and this was presented during the congress.
3. Lastly, selective laser trabeculoplasty has been established as the first line treatment for newly diagnosed glaucoma patients. All patients at Innovation Eye Clinic have the opportunity to decide if this non-invasive, painless laser treatment option is suitable for them.  We are now performing much higher numbers of selective laser trabeculoplasty and our results are very encouraging.  We are either preventing many patients having to use eye drops, who previously would have gone on to lifelong drops, or helping patients who are currently using eye drops by getting them on less, or eliminating their need for these drops altogether, which has a huge impact on improving quality of life.  A large, randomised control trial called the LiGHT Study has now produced six-year outcomes which show that 70% of patients receiving selective laser trabeculoplasty remain at their target eye pressure and off all medications at six years.  This study has also shown that patients receiving this laser treatment are less likely to go on to need cataract or glaucoma surgery at six years.  This is very encouraging to see and I feel that over the next few years we will see the use of selective laser trabeculoplasty even more commonly than we are doing at present.

I hope you found this newsletter useful, and please feel free to share it with friends and family to raise awareness about glaucoma and eye-care.

If you would like any further information about glaucoma treatment advancements or would like to make an appointment, please feel free to call on 0800 005 3335 or email on info@innovationeyeclinic.co.uk.  I, as always, will keep you updated with all progresses in the field of eye-care, particularly with regards to cataract and glaucoma care.