Purpose:
To further understand and characterize how improved glaucoma drainage devices_ones that are safe, effective, and easy to use_might impact the treatment algorithm for patients with open angle glaucoma (including primary, normal tension, pigmentary, and exfoliative glaucoma).
Results:
Of the approximately 400 unique e-mail addresses at the AGS, 126 respondents completed part or all of the survey (31%). The mean and standard deviation for each patient group is reported below, as are the post-hoc contrasts. The repeated measures ANOVA showed a statistically significant surgical preference for the device between patient categories (overall p-value <0.001).
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that glaucoma specialists are willing to consider implanting an improved glaucoma drainage device earlier in the therapeutic algorithm for patients with OAG. Continued work to develop and validate novel glaucoma implants is justified.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: systems/equipment/techniques • intraocular pressure • outflow: trabecular meshwork