Patient Reported Symptoms Demonstrating an Association with Severity of Visual Field Damage in Glaucoma

Discrepancy and agreement between subjective symptoms and visual field impairment in glaucoma patients at a driving assessment clinic

We investigated subjective symptoms during driving in 227 glaucoma patients at a driving assessment clinic. Patients underwent testing with the Humphrey Field Analyzer 24-2 (HFA 24-2) and a driving simulator (DS) with eye tracking. Patients reported whether they experienced symptoms during daily driving, such as fear or difficulty seeing under certain conditions. The integrated visual field (IVF) was calculated from HFA 24-2 data. The number of collisions in DS scenarios and eye movements during DS testing was recorded, and factors related to the presence of subjective symptom during driving were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression, with subjective symptoms as the dependent variable. Overall, 145 patients (63.9%) did not report subjective symptoms during driving. Rates of these symptoms were 22.9%, 36.6%, and 41.7% for mild, moderate, and severe glaucoma, respectively (P = 0.030). Patients with symptoms had worse better-eye mean deviation (MD) (P = 0.012) and lower IVF sensitivity in the superior hemifield (P < 0.002). Logistic regression revealed a significant association between symptoms and decreased superior IVF sensitivity from 0° to 12° (P = 0.0029; OR: 1.07). Our study highlights that many glaucoma patients, even with severe disease, may not be aware of visual symptoms during driving, though superior IVF mean sensitivity contributed to subjective symptoms during driving.

Therapeutic approaches targeting aging and cellular senescence in Huntington's disease

Huntington's disease (HD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that is manifested by a gradual loss of physical, cognitive, and mental abilities. As the disease advances, age has a major impact on the pathogenic signature of mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein aggregation. This review aims to explore the intricate relationship between aging, mHTT toxicity, and cellular senescence in HD. Scientific data on the interplay between aging, mHTT, and cellular senescence in HD were collected from several academic databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Google, and ScienceDirect. The search terms employed were "AGING," "HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE," "MUTANT HUNTINGTIN," and "CELLULAR SENESCENCE." Additionally, to gather information on the molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets, the search was extended to include relevant terms such as "DNA DAMAGE," "OXIDATIVE STRESS," and "AUTOPHAGY." According to research, aging leads to worsening HD pathophysiology through some processes. As a result of the mHTT accumulation, cellular senescence is promoted, which causes DNA damage, oxidative stress, decreased autophagy, and increased inflammatory responses. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and other substances are released by senescent cells, which may worsen the neuronal damage and the course of the disease. It has been shown that treatments directed at these pathways reduce some of the HD symptoms and enhance longevity in experimental animals, pointing to a new possibility of treating the condition. Through their amplification of the harmful effects of mHTT, aging and cellular senescence play crucial roles in the development of HD. Comprehending these interplays creates novel opportunities for therapeutic measures targeted at alleviating cellular aging and enhancing HD patients' quality of life.

Utilizing visual symptoms to distinguish dry eye from glaucoma, cataract, and suspect glaucoma patients: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The diagnosis of dry eye and other common ophthalmological conditions can be supported using patient reported symptoms, which is increasingly useful in contexts such as telemedicine. We aim to ascertain visual symptoms that differentiate dry eye from cataract, glaucoma, or glaucoma suspects.

METHODS

Adults with dry eye, glaucoma, cataract, and suspected glaucoma (controls) completed a questionnaire to rate the frequency and severity of 28 visual symptoms. Univariate, followed by multivariable logistic regression with backward stepwise selection (p < 0.05), determined the individual symptoms and set of symptoms best distinguishing dry eye from each of the other conditions.

RESULTS

Mean age of 353 patients (94 glaucoma suspect controls, 79 glaucoma, 84 cataract, and 96 dry eye) was 64.1 years (SD = 14.1); 67% were female and 68% White. Dry eye patients reported more frequent light sensitivity (OR = 15.0, 95% CI = 6.3-35.7) and spots in vision (OR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.2-6.3) compared to glaucoma suspect controls. Compared to glaucoma patients, dry eye patients experienced more frequent light sensitivity (OR = 9.2, 95% CI = 2.0-41.7), but less frequent poor peripheral vision (OR = 0.2, 95% CI = 0.06-0.7), difference in vision between eyes (OR = 0.09, 95% CI = 0.01-0.7), and missing patches of vision (OR = 0.06, 95% CI = 0.009-0.3). Compared to cataract patients, dry eye patients reported more frequent spots in vision (OR = 4.5, 95% CI = 1.5-13.4) and vision variability across the week (OR = 4.7, 95% CI = 1.2-17.7) and were less likely to report worsening vision (OR = 0.1, 95% CI = 0.03-0.4) and blindness (OR = 0.1, 95% CI = 0.02-0.8).

CONCLUSION

Visual symptoms may serve as a complementary tool to distinguish dry eye from various ocular conditions, though the symptoms that best distinguish dry eye differ across comparisons. Differentiating how patients visually perceive common eye diseases may be used in a variety of clinical settings to rule out specific conditions.

[Awareness for glaucoma in the general population]

BACKGROUND

Glaucoma is not a rare entity but because very few symptoms occur and visual field defects are frequently first recognized at a late stage, a large proportion of glaucoma diseases remain undetected. The aim of this study was to identify the proportion of undiagnosed glaucoma in German population-based cohort studies and to contextualize them in the context of the literature.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The prevalence of glaucoma in the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) and the age-related investigations on health of the University of Regensburg (AugUR) was evaluated based on visual field examinations and optic disc color photography according to the ISGEO criteria. Furthermore, the self-reported glaucoma diagnoses were collected and the proportion of undiagnosed glaucoma was determined.

RESULTS

The proportion of undiagnosed glaucoma was 55% in the GHS, and 53% in the AugUR study. The results correlate with results from previous studies from other countries in which the proportion of unrecognized glaucoma ranged from 33% to 78%. In the GHS and the AugUR study the proportion of undiagnosed glaucoma was higher in younger age groups and in women.

DISCUSSION

Roughly every second case of glaucoma is undetected. As the symptoms are often nonspecific or take a long time to appear, there is a risk of advanced glaucomatous visual field defects or blindness due to a lack of glaucoma awareness. Studies have shown that a systematic screening can halve this risk.

Validating Trend-Based End Points for Neuroprotection Trials in Glaucoma

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the power of trend-based visual field (VF) progression end points against long-term development of event-based end points accepted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Methods

One eye from 3352 patients with ≥10 24-2 VFs (median = 11 years) follow-up were analyzed. Two FDA-compatible criteria were applied to these series to label "true-progressed" eyes: ≥5 locations changing from baseline by more than 7 dB (FDA-7) or by more than the expected test-retest variability (GPA-like) in 2 consecutive tests. Observed rates of progression (RoP) were used to simulate trial-like series (2 years) randomly assigned (1000 times) to a "placebo" or a "treatment" arm. We simulated neuroprotective "treatment" effects by changing the proportion of "true progressed" eyes in the two arms. Two trend-based methods for mean deviation (MD) were assessed: (1) linear mixed model (LMM), testing average difference in RoP between the two arms, and (2) time-to-progression (TTP), calculated by linear regression as time needed for MD to decline by predefined cutoffs from baseline. Power curves with 95% confidence intervals were calculated for trend and event-based methods on the simulated series.

Results

The FDA-7 and GPA-like progression was achieved by 45% and 55% of the eyes in the clinical database. LMM and TTP had similar power, significantly superior to the event-based methods, none of which reached 80% power. All methods had a 5% false-positive rate.

Conclusions

The trend-based methods can efficiently detect treatment effects defined by long-term FDA-compatible progression.

Translational Relevance

The assessment of the power of trend-based methods to detect clinically relevant progression end points.

Perspectives on Adherence to Glaucoma Medical Therapy in Brazilian Patients

BACKGROUND

Poor adherence to glaucoma medication regimens may be associated with subsequent optic nerve damage and irreversible visual loss. Specific barriers to effective patient adherence in low-middle income countries are not fully recognized and new disease-specific instruments to assess adherence have been developed.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate adherence of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients to treatment in a middle-income country.

METHODS

POAG patients were recruited from the Glaucoma Service - Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericordia de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Clinical and demographic data were retrieved from participants' electronic records. All patients answered the Glaucoma Treatment Compliance Assessment Tool (GTCAT). This 27-item questionnaire was designed to evaluate multiple behavioral factors associated with glaucoma medication adherence.

RESULTS

The sample comprised 96 patients with POAG. The mean age was 63.2 ± 8.9 years; 48 were male and 48 female; 55 (57.3%) were White, 36 (37.5%) African-Brazilian, and five (5.2 %) were of mixed color. Most patients (97.9%) had less than a high school degree and all had a family income < US$10,000. The GTCAT identified 69 (71.8%) patients who "sometimes forget to use drops," 68 (70.8%) patients who "sometimes fall asleep before dosing time," and 60 (62.5%) patients "whose drops aren't with them at the time to take them"; 82 (85.4%) patients admitted to using "reminders to take medications." Eighty-two (85.4%) patients agreed that "doctor answers my questions," and 77 (80.5%) said "they are happy with their eye doctor."

CONCLUSIONS

The GTCAT identified a number of mostly unintentional factors associated with adherence in this cohort of Brazilian patients. The data may impact on how to understand and improve adherence to ocular hypotensive treatment in the Brazilian population.

Distinguishing Glaucoma, Cataract, and Glaucoma Suspect Based on Visual Symptoms

PRCIS

Cataract, glaucoma, and glaucoma suspect patients report differing visual symptoms. Asking patients about their visual symptoms may provide useful diagnostic information and inform decision-making in patients with comorbid conditions.

PURPOSE

To compare visual symptoms in glaucoma, glaucoma suspect (controls), and cataract patients.

METHODS

Glaucoma, cataract, and glaucoma suspect patients at Wilmer Eye Institute responded to a questionnaire rating the frequency and severity of 28 symptoms. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression determined the symptoms that best differentiate each disease pair.

RESULTS

In all, 257 patients (mean age: 67.4 ± 13.4 y; 57.2% female; 41.2% employed), including 79 glaucoma, 84 cataract, and 94 glaucoma suspect patients, participated. Compared with glaucoma suspects, glaucoma patients were more likely to report poor peripheral vision (OR 11.29, 95% CI: 3.73-34.16), better vision in 1 eye (OR 5.48, 95% CI: 1.33-22.64), and light sensitivity (OR 4.85, 95% CI: 1.78-13.24), explaining 40% of the variance in diagnosis (ie, glaucoma vs. glaucoma suspect). Compared with controls, cataract patients were more likely to report light sensitivity (OR 3.33, 95% CI: 1.56-7.10) and worsening vision (OR 12.20, 95% CI: 5.33-27.89), explaining 26% of the variance in diagnosis (ie, cataract vs. glaucoma suspect). Compared with cataract patients, glaucoma patients were more likely to report poor peripheral vision (OR 7.24, 95% CI: 2.53-20.72) and missing patches (OR 4.91, 95% CI: 1.52-15.84), but less likely to report worsening vision (OR 0.08, 95% CI 0.03-0.22), explaining 33% of the variance in diagnosis (ie, glaucoma vs. cataract).

CONCLUSIONS

Visual symptoms distinguish disease state to a moderate degree in glaucoma, cataract, and glaucoma suspect patients. Asking about visual symptoms may serve as a useful diagnostic adjunct and inform decision-making, for example, in glaucoma patients considering cataract surgery.

Five-Year Visual Field Outcomes of the HORIZON Trial

PURPOSE

To compare visual field (VF) progression between glaucoma patients receiving cataract surgery alone (CS) or with a Hydrus microstent (CS-HMS).

DESIGN

Post hoc analysis of VF data from the HORIZON multicenter randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

A total of 556 patients with glaucoma and cataract were randomized 2:1 to either CS-HMS (369) or CS (187) and followed up for 5 years. VF was performed at 6 months and then every year after surgery. We analyzed data for all participants with at least 3 reliable VFs (false positives < 15%). Average between-group difference in rate of progression (RoP) was tested using a Bayesian mixed model and a 2-sided Bayesian P value <.05 (main outcome). A multivariable model measured the effect of intraocular pressure (IOP). A survival analysis compared the probability of global VF sensitivity dropping by predefined cutoffs (2.5, 3.5, 4.5, and 5.5 dB) from baseline.

RESULTS

Data from 352 eyes in the CS-HMS arm and 165 in the CS arm were analyzed (2966 VFs). The mean RoP was -0.26 dB/y (95% credible interval -0.36, -0.16) for CS-HMS and -0.49 dB/y (95% credible interval -0.63, -0.34) for CS. This difference was significant (P = .0138). The difference in IOP only explained 17% of the effect (P < .0001). Five-year survival analysis showed an increased probability of VF worsening by 5.5 dB (P = .0170), indicating a greater proportion of fast progressors in the CS arm.

CONCLUSIONS

CS-HMS has a significant effect on VF preservation in glaucoma patients compared with CS alone, reducing the proportion of fast progressors.