(IGR: 15-1) | International Glaucoma Review #

Top-Seven of the 8^th Polish Glaucoma Symposium
held during the 44^th Congress of the Polish Society of Ophthalmology June 13-15, 2013, Warsaw, Poland

Innovative strategies in glaucoma diagnostics and therapy. New methods of glaucoma diagnostics and therapy (including necessary needs and real possibilities of their application in clinical practice) were presented including gene therapy, neuroprotection, immunotherapy, new outflow drugs, and possibilities for modulation of biomechanical factors of ocular tissues. There still is a need to better understand the mechanisms of outflow resistance and to find out about the critical molecular pathways that lead to elevated intraocular pressure. (Marta Misiuk-Hojło, Maria Pomorska, Poland)

Diagnostic ability of ganglion cell complex (GCC) analysis in the evaluation of glaucoma progression in children. After examining 50 children with different types of glaucoma using this method, it was stated that GCC analysis is a simpler and more precise method than visual field examination or peripapillary RNFL thickness measurements and as such it is more useful for detecting as well as monitoring glaucoma in children. (Marek Prost, Poland)

Normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) as an auto-immune disease? Immune system disorders may be one of the glaucoma-triggering factors. In order to prove this thesis, 121 patients (27 with NTG, 34 with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), 24 with auto-immune rheumatic diseases and 36 from the control group) were examined. Patients with auto-immune rheumatic diseases are more likely to suffer from NTG. Also, patients with NTG have a tendency to higher ANA levels, which can suggest a potencial role of the immune system in glaucoma pathogenesis. (Iwona Grabska-Liberek, Poland)

Diminished ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) measured by dynamic contour tonometry (DCT) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients presenting structural features of glaucomatous neuropathy. Disturbed perfusion may have a role in glaucoma development. (Barbara Terelak-Borys, Irmina Jankowska- Lech et al., Poland)

The assessment of peripapillary RNFL thickness in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) using Spectralis SD-OCT (Heidelberg Engineering) and Stratus TM-OCT Spectralis OCT appear to be more accurate. (Małgorzata Mulak, Kamil Kaczorowski, Poland)

Combined procedures-cataract and glaucoma surgeries using endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation. The ECP procedure, especially when combined with cataract surgery, can prove an alternative to the treatment used so far. (Jacek P.Szaflik, Anna Kaminska et al., Poland)

Combined surgery for cataract and glaucoma: canaloplasty versus non-penetrating deep sclerectomy - safety and efficacy; 12 month follow-up. After a year of follow-up, a comparable decrease in IOP was found in both cases. The most frequent complication after canaloplasty was hyphema (58% of all patients), whilst sclerectomy had to be followed with additional procedures (needling, goniopuncture, suturolysis or a 5-FU injection), therefore, higher quality of life is to be noted after canaloplasty. (Anna Byszewska, Joanna Wierzbowska et al., Poland)