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Editorial IGR 3-3

Dear Reader,

WGA: Association of International Glaucoma Societies

This ninth issue of IGR (and the 26th since the 1984 Glaucoma Abstracts) is the last with its present solo-sponsor. IGR will become THE journal of the recently created Association of International Glaucoma Societies. The WGA aims at coordination of and cooperation between all the world's Glaucoma Societies, and also to interact with glaucoma-related industries, glaucoma patient societies, and glaucoma foundations. In short, all those active in the field of glaucoma. A sort of 'United Nations' of Glaucoma.

The WGA was founded on January 1^st, 2002. In the past years, IGR has aimed to function as a Journal in which all the major International Glaucoma Societies were represented from and for all glaucomatologists.

It was felt that the quality of glaucoma care and research would benefit from a closer cooperation than could be offered by IGR, which after all is a journal and not an organization.

Founding members of the WGA are Roger A. Hitchings, Robert N. Weinreb, Erik L. Greve, Yoshi Kitazawa, Bruce M. Shields, and Remo Susanna. The aims and actions of the WGA will be explained in more detail in the next issue of IGR, the first issue in which IGR will appear as the WGA Journal. The present message is clear: a global Glaucoma Association has started to function. This Association will not and cannot take over any of the activities of the present International Glaucoma Societies. It will be active wherever global cooperation will increase the quality of glaucoma organization.

IGR volume IV/1 will be supported by funds from the WGA, a multi-sponsored association. We are grateful to Pharmacia who has been a faithful solo-sponsor and will continue to be one of the multi-sponsors. Pharmacia will continue to be the solo-sponsor of the IGR Award.

Journal of Glaucoma; 10 years: Congratulations

The Journal of Glaucoma has celebrated its tenth year of publication. It produced an excellent supplement (see the 'Your Special Attention' paragraph). Congratulations to Chief Editor Michael Van Buskirk and Associate Editor Robert N. Weinreb, and to all members of the Editorial Board of the Journal.

Expert care

In an earlier issue of IGR, we discussed the position of the glaucoma-scientist. A similar important practical question is: what proof do we have that a glaucomatologist-subspecialist provides better care than a general ophthalmologist. This matter was brought up by Paul Lee. The uncomfortable truth is that there is little hard evidence, even though we intuitively know that a specialist delivers better care than a generalist. Is there some work to be done here?

KC

An interesting academic discussion has taken place on the Glaucomanet on the use of disK or disC. A short answer came from Yves Robert who pointed out that disK is an original Greek word. The Greeks did not have a 'c', but they have seniority over the Romans who did have a 'c' but not a 'k'. We might as well choose the original spelling. It is a matter of choice.

This issue

The reader will find several short reports on glaucoma meetings by Flammer, Krupin, Fechtner, Hong, Seong, Brooks, a Shaffer Lecture report, and a very interesting overview by Harry Quigley on worldwide glaucoma. Of our six billion world population, more than half live in Asia. Angle-closure glaucoma is a far greater threat to visual acuity in Asia than in the Western hemisphere.

The Editor's Selection in this issue is larger and better than ever, reflecting the quality of the papers and the reviewers: glaucoma in China - more than anywhere else, TIGR again, aging rats, neurotrophins, parvo and magno, David and Goliath, imaging and progression, imaging and cataract extraction, go with the blood flow, AION and PION, beta-blocker drift, genetherapy and neuroprotection, long-term Molteno by Molteno, cataract after trabeculectomy, and cataract extraction as IOP reducer.

Reviews by Ted Acott, Albert Alm, Lee Alward, Todd Anthony, Eytan Blumenthal, Joe Caprioli, Bal Chauhan, Joseph Flammer, Stefano Gandolfi, Franz Grehn, Erik Greve, Anders Heijl, Rosario Hernandez, Gabor Holl�, Chris Johnson, Paul Kaufman, Peng Khaw, Len Levin, Don Minckler, Steven Obstbaum, Rich Parrish, Jon Polansky, Harry Quigley, Pam Sample, Martin Wax and Linda Zangwill.

Special attention must be given to the CIGTS report; this major, prospective, randomized study provides a further piece in the jigsaw of information necessary for evidence-based glaucoma management. The study report and the comment deserve the careful reading necessary for understanding the results and their relationship with other study results.

Teleglaucoma was performed in Western Australian prisons (Yogesan et al., abstract #758). The outcome showed: considerable savings and less escapes. We will add 'less escapes' to the list of potential advantages of telemedicine.

Enjoy your reading!

Erik L. Greve