Evidence suggests that, in people with newly diagnosed OAG, the risk of uncontrolled IOP is higher in people treated with medication used before the 1990s when compared to laser trabeculoplasty at two years follow up. Trabeculoplasty is less effective than trabeculectomy in controlling IOP at six months and two years follow up. Different laser technology and protocol modalities were compared to the traditional laser trabeculoplasty and more evidence is necessary to determine if they are equivalent or not. There is no evidence to determine the effectiveness of laser trabeculoplasty compared to contemporary medication (prostaglandin analogues, topical anhydrase inhibitors and alpha2-agonists) and also with contemporary surgical techniques. Also there should be further investigation in to the effectiveness of laser trabeculoplasty in specific racial groups, specific diagnostic groups, such as pseudoexfoliation and pigmentary glaucoma and different stages of OAG. More research is also required determining cost-effectiveness of laser trabeculoplasty in the management of glaucoma.
Purpose:
To apply the Childhood Glaucoma Research Network (CGRN) classification in children from a pediatric glaucoma outpatient clinic in a tertiary Brazilian care center to better understand the prevalence and the demographic and clinical characteristics of each subtype of childhood glaucoma.
Methods:
This was a retrospective study in which medical records were collected from patients assisted in childhood glaucoma’s clinic at the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo from January 2010 to January 2018. The initial diagnosis and new diagnosis according to CGRN classification were collected. In addition, age, sex, visual acuity, and affected eye were recorded.
Results:
From 624 ophthalmic consultations in the clinic, 496 had confirmed diagnosis of childhood glaucoma or glaucoma suspect. Mean age at diagnosis of the entire group was 3.62±4.23 years (range, 0 to 17 y). Two hundred eight-one (56.65%) of all patients were male and 349 patients (81.16%) had bilateral disease. All patients fit 1 of the 7 categories of the new classification. In all, 48.59% of diagnoses were changed upon reclassification. According to CGRN classification, 220 patients (44.35%) had primary glaucoma (juvenile open-angle glaucoma and primary congenital glaucoma); 210 patients (42.34%) had secondary glaucoma (glaucoma associated with nonacquired ocular anomalies; glaucoma associated with nonacquired systemic disease or syndrome; glaucoma associated with acquired condition; and glaucoma following cataract surgery); and 66 patients (13.31%) were glaucoma suspect. The most common diagnoses found were primary congenital glaucoma with 218 cases (43.95%) and the last common diagnosis was juvenile open-angle glaucoma with 2 cases (0.40%).
Conclusion:
The CGRN classification provides a useful method for classifying childhood glaucoma. A single, standardized classification system is important for diagnosis and management these patients, in addition, may improve physician communication, and future research.
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