Objective assessment of compliance and persistence among patients treated for glaucoma and ocular hypertension: a systematic review

Sustaining Ophthalmic Practices for the Future: A High-Value Care Approach to Environmental Responsibility

Ophthalmology, like all medical specialities, is continuously evolving to adapt to emerging challenges and advancements. The evidence-based medical practices that previously guided policies and regulations may no longer be sufficient or sustainable in the context of an ageing population, increasing healthcare demands, and the urgent need for sustainability. As the global burden on healthcare systems grows, sustainability must be considered from multiple perspectives, including financial and environmental aspects, without compromising patient outcomes. While financial sustainability is essential to ensure cost-effective resource allocation, accessibility, and affordability for both healthcare providers and patients, environmental sustainability is becoming an increasing priority. Efforts to minimise the carbon footprint associated with medical procedures, transportation, and the production and disposal of ophthalmic equipment and materials are necessary. This paper highlights key examples of areas within ophthalmology where sustainability can be enhanced by practicing high-value care. We describe targeted opportunities that demonstrate how sustainable practices can be successfully integrated into ophthalmology without compromising patient care or operational feasibility.

The Relationship of Frailty with Surgical and Laser Treatment for Patients with Glaucoma

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to determine whether frailty, quantified by an electronic Frailty Index (eFI), was associated with the likelihood of receiving surgery or laser treatment in patients with glaucoma.

Methods

Single-center retrospective review of patients presenting with glaucoma who had a calculable eFI. A repeated measures multivariable logistic regression model was used to determine the relationship between eFI score and the likelihood of having glaucoma surgery, and a multivariable survival model was also created to assess time to glaucoma surgery. Similar models were constructed for laser treatment (LT). Models were adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, sex, baseline intraocular pressure, and severity based on mean deviation.

Results

A total of 1168 patients (2248 eyes) were included in this study. Glaucoma surgery was significantly more likely among those with severe [OR=2.89] or moderate glaucoma [OR=1.89] (p<0.001). Older age (per 10 year increase) was associated with a significantly lower likelihood of receiving glaucoma surgery [OR=0.581, p<0.001], longer times to glaucoma surgery [HR=0.719, p=0.007], and lower likelihood of LT [OR=0.774, p=0.05]. For every 0.1 unit increase in eFI, indicating greater frailty, there was a significantly reduced likelihood of receiving surgical treatment [OR=0.672, p<0.001], longer time to surgery [HR=0.670, p=0.001], and lower likelihood of LT [OR=0.725, p=0.010], independent of IOP, glaucoma severity, age, sex, or race.

Conclusion

Increased age and frailty scores are associated with reduced likelihood of receiving glaucoma surgery or LT and longer time to glaucoma surgery, even after controlling for baseline IOP and glaucoma severity. Future studies should investigate whether frailty impacts surgical outcomes in glaucoma.

Safety and Longevity of Intraocular Pressure Control After Bimatoprost Implant Administration: Interim Analysis of a Phase 3b Clinical Trial (TRITON)

BACKGROUND

Bimatoprost implant 10 µg is an intracameral, biodegradable implant that slowly releases bimatoprost to lower intraocular pressure (IOP). This study was designed to evaluate safety and the duration of the IOP-lowering effect after single and as-needed repeat administration of the bimatoprost implant in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study is an interim analysis of an ongoing, prospective, open-label, multicenter study in patients with OAG or OHT who are inadequately managed with topical IOP-lowering medication for reasons other than efficacy. IOP-lowering rescue treatment is allowed if implant retreatment criteria are not met. The primary endpoint is time to retreatment/rescue after the initial implant administration analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method. Key safety measures include treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and reading-center evaluation of central corneal endothelial cell density (CECD). Analysis of data collected through 15 September 2023 focused on outcomes after a single or two implants.

RESULTS

In total, 441 patients received the 10-µg bimatoprost implant in the study eye on day 1 (cycle 1), 179 patients received a second administration (cycle 2), and 378 patients had at least 12 months of follow-up data available. The median time (95% confidence interval) from the first administration to a second administration or rescue was 392 (369, 485) days; the probability of not requiring retreatment or rescue by day 360 was 57.5%. A second implant administration similarly provided a long duration of IOP control. The baseline mean (standard error, SE) IOP was 25.6 (0.14) mmHg; the mean (SE) change from baseline IOP in unrescued eyes after a single administration was - 7.5 (0.21) mmHg at week 24 and - 6.4 (0.28) mmHg at month 12. Conjunctival hyperemia, typically associated with the administration procedure, was the most common ocular TEAE (cycle 1, 14.3%; cycle 2, 12.8%). Mean (SE) percentage change in CECD from baseline at 12 months after administration was - 4.3 (0.81)% in cycle 1 and - 8.5 (2.22)% in cycle 2. The cycle 1 implant was no longer visible or ≤ 25% of initial size in 66.3% and 94.3% of study eyes at months 12 and 24, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In this interim analysis based on available data, the IOP-lowering effect of the initial administration of the 10-µg bimatoprost implant was well maintained for > 1 year in most patients. Results after a second administration were comparable. The safety profile of initial and repeat administration was acceptable.

TRIAL REGISTRY

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03850782; registered 20 February 2019.

MAGNETICALLY STEERED CELL THERAPY FOR REDUCTION OF INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE AS A TREATMENT STRATEGY FOR OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA

Trabecular meshwork (TM) cell therapy has been proposed as a next-generation treatment for elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucoma, the most common cause of irreversible blindness. Using a magnetic cell steering technique with excellent efficiency and tissue-specific targeting, we delivered two types of cells into a mouse model of glaucoma: either human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) or induced pluripotent cell derivatives (iPSC-TM cells). We observed a 4.5 [3.1, 6.0] mmHg or 27% reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP) for nine months after a single dose of only 1500 magnetically-steered hAMSCs, explained by increased outflow through the conventional pathway and associated with an higher TM cellularity. iPSC-TM cells were also effective, but less so, showing only a 1.9 [0.4, 3.3] mmHg or 13% IOP reduction and increased risk of tumorigenicity. In both cases, injected cells remained detectable in the iridocorneal angle three weeks post-transplantation. Based on the locations of the delivered cells, the mechanism of IOP lowering is most likely paracrine signaling. We conclude that magnetically-steered hAMSC cell therapy has potential for long-term treatment of ocular hypertension in glaucoma.

One Sentence Summary

A novel magnetic cell therapy provided effective intraocular pressure reduction in a mouse model, motivating future translational studies.

Adherence and Persistence on Prostaglandin Analogues for Glaucoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE

To systematically review, synthesize and quantify studies reporting patterns of adherence and persistence with prostaglandin analogues (PGAs) in order to comprehensively understand real-world treatment behavior among patients with glaucoma who are prescribed PGAs. These data can inform the decision between a glaucoma therapy based on either topical PGA medications or procedural PGA-based intervention.

DESIGN

Systematic literature review (SLR) and meta-analysis (MA).

METHODS

We updated a 2011 SLR using electronic database searches (MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews [CDSR]), supplemented by hand searches of SLR and MA bibliographies. We included observational studies conducted in adult glaucoma patients treated with PGAs that reported objective measures of persistence or adherence. In addition to estimated rates of adherence and persistence, adherence among patients on any/unspecified PGA was characterized by mean MPR/PDC (medication possession ratio/proportion of days covered, where values >80% indicate good adherence). Duration of therapy was defined as the time period between initial therapy prescription and time of therapy discontinuation or switch.

RESULTS

The SLR included 50 publications reporting on 47 unique studies and involving 961,000 patients. The subsequent MA included all but four studies which did not report the age distribution of patients. The mean proportion of patients on any/unspecified PGA who were adherent at Year 1 was 44% (95% CI: 31%-58%). Among patients on any/unspecified PGA, the mean MPR/PDC was 54% (95% CI: 38%-75%) at Year 1 and 60% at Year 2 (95% CI: 39%-94%). The mean proportion of patients on any/unspecified PGA who were persistent fell from 75% (95% CI: 66%-85%) at Month 6 to 31% (95% CI: 12%-55%) at Year 3, with a smaller decrease observed between Year 1 (56%; 95% CI: 45%-66%) and Year 2 (53%; 95% CI: 45%-62%), and a larger decrease between Years 2 and 3. The mean duration on therapy was 315.7 days (95% CI: 190.0%-441.5 days).

CONCLUSIONS

Suboptimal adherence and persistence with PGAs are common, with further decreases as duration lengthens. These findings may underscore the value of procedural glaucoma treatments that do not depend on daily patient engagement with topical medications.

Relationship between persistence with topical antiglaucomatous prescription and patient socioeconomic status at a tertiary university hospital in Jerez de la Frontera (Spain)

INTRODUCTION

To study the relationship between socioeconomic status and persistence with topical antiglaucomatous medication.

METHODS

A retrospective epidemiological observational cohort study was conducted with a sample of 1563 patients. The main dependent variable was persistence (medication possession ratio), the independent variable was socioeconomic status (deprivation index). Additional independent variables were used for multivariate analysis: individual health card index, sex, age, pharmacological group, number of eye drops, preservatives, diagnosis and concurrent medications. Bivariate statistical analysis was obtained using non-parametric tests. Logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

We obtained data showing greater persistence in the groups with a higher socioeconomic level (deprivation index 1 and 2), with medication possession ratio values of 79.97 and 75.30, respectively) as opposed to the groups at lower socioeconomic levels (deprivation index 4 and 5, with medication possession ratio values of 73.75 and 69.85, respectively. Logistic regression corroborated this difference, reaching a significant value (no persistence in deprivation index group 5 versus 1) with OR = 1.62; 95%CI: 1.13-2.31. Additionally, lower persistence was detected in males, under 60 years of age, undergoing treatment with alpha-agonists, and in patients with ocular hypertension.

DISCUSSION

Low socioeconomic status of the patient was significantly associated with decreased persistence with topical antiglaucomatous therapy.

Prospective 18-Month Study of Bimatoprost Intracameral Implant in Patients with Open-Angle Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension in US Clinical Practice

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Bimatoprost implant 10 µg (Durysta) is an intracameral biodegradable implant that releases bimatoprost to lower intraocular pressure (IOP). The purpose of this study was to prospectively collect effectiveness and safety data after administration of the implant in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

METHODS

This phase IV, multicenter, prospective, observational, open-label, 18-month study (ARGOS) enrolled adult patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who were scheduled to receive the bimatoprost implant in one or both eyes. Data collected included IOP, use of topical IOP-lowering medications, treatment-emergent adverse events, and central corneal endothelial cell density. The primary endpoint was the proportion of primary (first-treated) eyes that received no additional (new) IOP-lowering treatment per standard medical care through month 6 after the implant administration.

RESULTS

A total of 217 patients (341 eyes) were enrolled, and 132 patients (60.8%) and 203 eyes (59.5%) completed the study. Most patients were on topical IOP-lowering medication before receiving the implant. After implant administration, the proportion of primary eyes that had received no additional treatment was 88.6% (95% confidence interval 86.6-90.6) at month 6 (primary endpoint) and remained high throughout the follow-up: 83.7% (95% confidence interval 80.2-87.3) at month 12 and 77.7% (95% confidence interval 73.4-82.1) at month 18. Intraocular pressure was reduced after implant administration, with mean changes in IOP from baseline at follow-up visits ranging from - 1.0 to - 2.0 mm Hg. The mean number of topical IOP-lowering medications used was also reduced, from 1.8 at baseline to 0.9 at month 12 and 1.0 at month 18. Increased IOP and dry eye were the most common ocular treatment-emergent adverse events. The mean percentage change in central corneal endothelial cell density from baseline at month 18 (central reading center evaluation) was - 3.47%. In qualitative interviews, most patients (84%, 21/25) reported overall satisfaction with their treatment outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The bimatoprost implant helped control IOP and decrease topical medication use. Throughout the 18 months after implant administration, an estimated 77.7% of eyes required no new added medication for IOP management. Patient-reported outcomes were favorable, and the safety profile of the implant was acceptable.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04647214, registered 23 November, 2020.

First-line glaucoma monotherapy medication patterns in Finland during 1995-2019 based on a population-based study

BACKGROUND

The long-term patterns in first-line glaucoma medication are not well established. Exploring these in longitudinal and population-based settings would provide information for the healthcare systems to plan glaucoma care accordingly.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate patterns in first-line glaucoma monotherapy in Finland during 1995-2019 based on nationwide survey and register data.

METHODS

A population-based cohort study with 25 years of total follow-up. The cohort (n = 9288) is a random sample drawn from the nationwide health examination survey FinHealth 2017 which represents the Finnish population aged 30 years or older in 2017. Glaucoma patients were selected from the survey participants based on linked register data that included prescriptions and special reimbursements for glaucoma medication. The patterns, length of use, age at initiation, and persistence of first-line glaucoma drug monotherapies were observed during 1995-2019.

RESULTS

A total of 141 glaucoma patients with glaucoma drug monotherapy as a first-line glaucoma therapy were identified from the sample. The proportion of patients continuing with their first-line monotherapy was 64% after 1 year, 37% after 3 years, and 21% after 5 years of follow-up. During the 25 years there was a shift from beta-blockers to prostaglandin analogues as the prominent first-line glaucoma drug class. The length of use was longer for prostaglandin analogues compared with beta-blockers among patients continuing with their first-line monotherapy after 5 years of follow-up. The non-persistence rate was 38% of all patients during their first-line monotherapy. Timolol fixed-combinations were the most common second-line glaucoma therapy with a share of 39% after 5 years of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

During the 25-year follow-up a shift from beta-blockers to prostaglandin analogues had occurred and long initial therapies of over 5 years had become more common. However, the decline in the continuation of the initial therapy still occurred early with 1 out of 3 patients continuing after 3 years. This decline together with the consistent problem of non-persistence remain clinical challenges in topical drug therapy of glaucoma.

Is CONNECTDROP®, a Medication Event Monitoring System Add-On Paired with a Smartphone Application, Acceptable to Patients with Glaucoma for Taking Their Daily Medication? The CONDORE Pilot Study

Objective

This pilot study tested the feasibility of a future efficacy trial examining the effect of CONNECTDROP®, a novel Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS) paired with a mHealth application, on medication adherence in patients with glaucoma.

Design

A single-center, single-arm, prospective interventional pilot study (NCT04552964).

Participants

Adults with glaucoma managed with at least a fixed combination of timolol/dorzolamide who are adherent to treatment.

Methods

Participants (n = 31) were provided with the MEMS device and a smartphone with the application installed. They were required to use the MEMS with their usual timolol/dorzolamide prescription for 9 weeks. The study endpoint was at the end of week 9, when all study materials were returned, and participants completed a 17-item patient satisfaction questionnaire. Data collected continuously by each MEMS for the 9 weeks were analyzed for their suitability to quantify adherence of the individual participant and characterize adherence trends within the study cohort. Clinical data were collected at baseline, week 8, and week 9 for the safety evaluation.

Main Outcome Measures

The primary outcome was global patient satisfaction after 9 weeks. Secondary outcome measures included participant feedback on handling the MEMS and its usability, along with that of the connected application. Objective data were used to determine participant medication adherence. The proportion of participants who successfully changed the MEMS to a new bottle at week 8 was reported.

Results

The MEMS-connected device achieved a global satisfaction score of 74.1% from study participants after 9 weeks. Furthermore, 70.4% of participants found the MEMS easy to use. However, only 59.2% reported feedback from the mHealth application useful in reminding them to take their treatment. MEMS-derived data showed that 70.4% of participants achieved an "adherence score" of 80% or above after 8 weeks and that 40.7% who completed the study had not changed the bottle correctly. No adverse events (AEs) were reported.

Conclusion

In this pilot study, the CONNECTDROP device was able to monitor daily intake of anti-glaucomatous medication over 2 months and had high satisfaction amongst this cohort of patients and was easy to use. The objective adherence data obtained appears reliable but must be validated for use in an efficacy trial.

Financial Disclosures

The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Revolutionizing Eye Care: Exploring the Potential of Microneedle Drug Delivery

Microneedle technology revolutionizes ocular drug delivery by addressing challenges in treating ocular diseases. This review explores its potential impact, recent advancements, and clinical uses. This minimally invasive technique offers precise control of drug delivery to the eye, with various microneedle types showing the potential to penetrate barriers in the cornea and sclera, ensuring effective drug delivery. Recent advancements have improved safety and efficacy, offering sustained and controlled drug delivery for conditions like age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. While promising, challenges such as regulatory barriers and long-term biocompatibility persist. Overcoming these through interdisciplinary research is crucial. Ultimately, microneedle drug delivery presents a revolutionary method with the potential to significantly enhance ocular disease treatment, marking a new era in eye care.

Bioactive Glial-Derived Neurotrophic Factor from a Safe Injectable Collagen-Alginate Composite Gel Rescues Retinal Photoreceptors from Retinal Degeneration in Rabbits

The management of vision-threatening retinal diseases remains challenging due to the lack of an effective drug delivery system. Encapsulated cell therapy (ECT) offers a promising approach for the continuous delivery of therapeutic agents without the need for immunosuppressants. In this context, an injectable and terminable collagen-alginate composite (CAC) ECT gel, designed with a Tet-on pro-caspase-8 system, was developed as a safe intraocular drug delivery platform for the sustained release of glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) to treat retinal degenerative diseases. This study examined the potential clinical application of the CAC ECT gel, focusing on its safety, performance, and termination through doxycycline (Dox) administration in the eyes of healthy New Zealand White rabbits, as well as its therapeutic efficacy in rabbits with sodium-iodate (SI)-induced retinal degeneration. The findings indicated that the CAC ECT gel can be safely implanted without harming the retina or lens, displaying resistance to degradation, facilitating cell attachment, and secreting bioactive GDNF. Furthermore, the GDNF levels could be modulated by the number of implants. Moreover, Dox administration was effective in terminating gel function without causing retinal damage. Notably, rabbits with retinal degeneration treated with the gels exhibited significant functional recovery in both a-wave and b-wave amplitudes and showed remarkable efficacy in reducing photoreceptor apoptosis. Given its biocompatibility, mechanical stability, controlled drug release, terminability, and therapeutic effectiveness, our CAC ECT gel presents a promising therapeutic strategy for various retinal diseases in a clinical setting, eliminating the need for immunosuppressants.

Real-world evaluation of novel eye drop bottle sensors: Cloud-based AI support for eye drop adherence

Purpose

To understand real-world eye drop adherence among glaucoma patients and evaluate the performance of our proposed cloud-based support for eye drop adherence (CASEA).

Design

Prospective, observational case series.

Methods

Setting: The Department of Ophthalmology at Tsukazaki Hospital. Patient or study population: Glaucoma patients treated at the hospital from May 2021 to September 2022, with 61 patients initially enrolled. Intervention or observation procedures: Pharmacists guided eye drop administration before the study. Changes in bottle orientation were detected using an accelerometer attached to the container, and acceleration waveforms and date/time data were recorded. Patients visited the clinic during the 4th and 8th weeks to report their eye drop administration, and the data were uploaded to the cloud. Main outcome measures: Two AI models (B-LSTM) were created to analyze the eye drop bottle movement time-series data for patients treating one or both eyes. The models were evaluated by comparing the true administration status with the AI model judgment.

Results

Four of the 61 study subjects dropped out. The remaining 57 patients achieved recall, precision, and accuracy values of 98.6 %, 98.6 %, and 95.9 %, respectively, for the two-eyes model and 95.8 %, 98.8 %, and 95.6 % for the one-eye model. Three low-accuracy participants (77.1 %, 71.0 %, and 81.0 %) improved to 100 %, 99.1 %, and 100 %, respectively, after undergoing an additional 8-week performance validation using an aid-type container designed to ensure that the bottle was fully inverted during instillation.

Conclusions

CASEA precisely monitored daily eye drop adherence and enhanced treatment efficacy by identifying patients with difficulty self-medicating. This system has the potential to improve glaucoma patient outcomes by supporting adherence.

Sustained Release Therapies with the Prostaglandin Analogues Intracameral Implants

The travoprost intracameral implant was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for sustained release medical treatment of open-angle glaucoma in the USA. The approval represents a substantial and progressive step forward in the area of sustained-release glaucoma therapy. Topical intraocular pressure-lowering medications for the treatment of glaucoma are faced with a host of challenges for long-term and usually lifelong care. A changing paradigm in glaucoma management involves first-line interventions with laser modalities, micro-invasive surgeries, and sustained-release treatment platforms. Future needs in the area of sustained-release therapy include a non-prostaglandin drug delivery platform and longer-term treatments that do not require surgical reintervention.

A Comparative Study on Efficacy of Intraocular Pressure Lowering of Two Fixed-Dose Antiglaucoma Drug Combination Brinzolamide-Brimonidine Versus Latanoprost-Timolol in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of Brinzolamide-Brimonidine (BB) (1%+0.2%) with the gold standard Latanoprost-Timolol (LT) (0.005%+0.5%) in treating primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT). Methods: A 1-year prospective study, spanning from May 2022 to May 2023, conducted at a tertiary eye-care hospital. Participants, aged 40-60, with a baseline intraocular pressure (IOP) >21 mm Hg, requiring a >30% reduction, were enrolled. Group A (n = 100) received BB, and Group B (n = 100) received LT. Outcomes were assessed at 1 month (IOP difference from baseline), 3 and 6 months (mean diurnal variations). Results: The mean age at presentation was 55.5 ± 4.5 years in Group A and 54.7 ± 4.2 years in Group B. At 1 month, Group A exhibited a mean IOP of 18.7 mm Hg, while Group B had 17.6 mm Hg, with no statistically significant difference (P = 0.53). No significant diurnal variation was observed in either group (P = 0.07). Target pressure was achieved in 88% of patients in Group A and slightly higher at 92% in Group B. Moreover, no serious side effects were reported, and compliance was higher in Group B (98%) compared to Group A (96%). Conclusion: Although LT showed slightly better and sustained IOP reduction, the difference was not statistically significant. Both BB and LT demonstrated comparable outcomes for managing POAG and OHT.

Predictors and long-term patterns of medication adherence to glaucoma treatment in Denmark-an observational registry study of 30 100 Danish patients with glaucoma

BACKGROUND

Self-treatment with glaucoma medication (eye drops) has been associated with adherence challenges. Poor adherence results in worse outcomes in terms of visual field loss.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate patterns in medication adherence among Danish patients with glaucoma in relation to selected predictors of adherence, long-term adherence patterns, and long-term societal economic consequences of poor adherence.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This register-based study included 30 100 glaucoma patients followed for 10 years between 2000 and 2018. Glaucoma was identified from the Danish national registers by diagnosis of Open Angle Glaucoma and/or by redeemed prescriptions of glaucoma medication. Logistic regression models were applied to estimate patient characteristics related to medical adherence. Diagnosis-related group fees were applied to estimate healthcare costs.

RESULTS

High adherence in the first year(s) of treatment was less likely among men (ORfirst year: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.75 to 0.82), younger individuals and among those with a positive Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score (ORfirst year/CCI≥3: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.63 to 0.80). Adherence in the first year and in the first two years was associated with adherence in the fifth (ORfirst year: 4.55, 95% CI: 4.30 to 4.82/ORfirst two years: 6.47, 95% CI: 6.10 to 6.86) as with adherence in the 10th year with slightly lower estimates. Being medical adherent was related to higher costs related to glaucoma medication after 5 and 10 years comparing with poor adherence, whereas poor adherence was associated with a marked increase in long-term costs for hospital contacts.

CONCLUSION

Increasing age, female sex and low comorbidity score are correlated with better adherence to glaucoma treatment. Adherence in the first years of treatment may be a good predictor for future adherence. In the long term, patients with poor adherence are overall more expensive to society in terms of hospital contacts.

Prevalence of comorbidities with the potential to increase the risk of nonadherence to topical ocular hypotensive medication in patients with open-angle glaucoma

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prevalence of comorbidities that may limit or prevent adherence to topical ocular hypotensive therapy in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG).

METHODS

The UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) database of primary and secondary care and prescription records was analyzed to identify patients with a first (index) diagnosis of OAG during 2016-2020. The primary care records of these patients were screened for diagnostic terms linked to prespecified (qualifying) comorbidities considered to have the potential to impact patients' ability to instill eye drops. The prevalence of each of 10 categories of qualifying comorbidity recorded within the period from 5 years before to 2 years after the index OAG diagnosis was analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 100,968 patients with OAG were included in the analysis. Among the patients in the OAG cohort, 13,962 (13.8%) were aged 40-54 years, 32,145 (31.8%) were aged 55-69 years, 42,042 (41.6%) were aged 70-84 years, and 12,819 (12.7%) were aged 85+ years. Within the OAG population, 82.7%, 14.6%, and 2.7% of patients had no category, one category, and two or more categories of qualifying comorbidity, respectively. Qualifying comorbidities were most common in older patients. The most prevalent qualifying comorbidities were categorized as degenerative, traumatic, or pathological central nervous system disorder disrupting cognitive function (5.2%), movement disorder (4.4%), and low vision (4.1%). The prevalence of arthropathies and injuries affecting upper limbs (including arthritis in the hands) was 2.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of comorbidities should be considered when determining whether eye drops are suitable treatment for glaucoma. Neurodegenerative disease affecting cognition and memory, motor disease, and low vision are common comorbidities that may impact adherence to eye drops, and affected patients may benefit from non-drop treatment modalities.

Qualitative Development of the Allergan Satisfaction with Treatment Experience Questionnaire (ASTEQ) Instrument, a Patient-Reported Outcome Measure in Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension

INTRODUCTION

Sustained-release intraocular implants provide a therapeutic option for open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT) patients who are non-compliant with eyedrops. Currently, there are no published patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures that assess treatment satisfaction with intraocular implants. To address this gap, a new PRO instrument, the Allergan Satisfaction with Treatment Experience Questionnaire (ASTEQ), has been developed in accordance with Food and Drug Administration guidance.

METHODS

Qualitative research interviews were conducted among patients with OAG/OHT who had received three intraocular injections of a sustained-release bimatoprost (10 or 15 µg) implant within the clinical trial setting. A preliminary conceptual framework capturing treatment satisfaction concepts in glaucoma, as identified from the literature, was used to develop a semi-structured interview guide. A concept elicitation (CE) interview to identify aspects of the glaucoma treatment experience pertinent to intraocular implants provided content for a draft instrument. A cognitive debriefing (CD) interview to test the instrument's interpretability, relevance, and validity informed its subsequent refinement. Interview analysis followed a grounded theory approach to identify data patterns and relationships.

RESULTS

CE interviews (n = 19) indicated that participants' main considerations in rating satisfaction with implant treatment were physical comfort during preparation for the implant and implant administration, anxiety about the procedure, frequency of implant administration, possible side effects, convenience and accessibility of the implant, relationship with the clinician, and lifestyle fit. Draft ASTEQ revision based on CD interviews (n = 20) and readability tests yielded a nine-item ASTEQ instrument comprising satisfaction with overall implant experience and frequency of administration, occurrence/bother of immediate and long-term side effects, worry about implant administration and possible risks/side effects, and physical discomfort during preparation for the implant and implant administration.

CONCLUSION

The ASTEQ instrument has demonstrated content validity in patients with OAG/OHT treated with a sustained-release bimatoprost implant. Further research is necessary to evaluate its psychometric properties.

Phase 3, Randomized Study Comparing Intracameral Bimatoprost Implant 15 µg and Selective Laser Trabeculectomy in Patients with Open-Angle Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension

Purpose

We evaluate the safety and intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effect of 15-µg bimatoprost implant (higher dose than the currently approved product) compared with selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

Methods

Randomized, phase 3, 12-month, multicenter, paired-eye, patient- and efficacy evaluator-masked noninferiority study. Patients with inadequate IOP control were randomized to receive 360° SLT (day 1) or up to 3 administrations of 15-µg bimatoprost implant (day 4, weeks 16 and 32) in the primary eye and the alternative treatment in the contralateral eye. The primary endpoint was IOP change from baseline at weeks 4, 12, and 24.

Results

At weeks 4, 12, and 24, mean IOP change from baseline ranged from -7.01 to -6.65 mm Hg in implant-treated eyes (N=138) and -6.45 to -6.26 mm Hg in SLT-treated eyes (N=138). Differences in IOP change from baseline ranged from -0.70 to -0.25 mm Hg favoring implant; the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval of the difference (implant minus SLT) was <1.0 mm Hg at all 3 visits. The probability of requiring no additional (rescue) IOP-lowering treatment in implant-treated versus SLT-treated eyes was 93.6% versus 86.5% at day 180 and 74.6% versus 77.1% at day 360. Corneal endothelial cell loss was more common in implant-treated eyes and typically occurred after repeated implant administration.

Conclusion

Bimatoprost implant 15 µg met prespecified criteria for statistical and clinical noninferiority to SLT in lowering IOP, and after 1, 2, or 3 administrations, demonstrated a duration of IOP lowering similar to SLT. Bimatoprost implant 15 µg was associated with corneal adverse events in some patients, especially after repeated administrations at a fixed interval, and has been discontinued from development. A lower dose strength of implant (bimatoprost implant 10 µg, Durysta) is US Food and Drug Administration-approved for single administration.

Technological Advances in a Therapy of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: Insights into Current Nanotechnologies

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness and is characterized by increased intraocular pressure (IOP) and progressive optic nerve damage. The current therapeutic approaches for glaucoma management, such as eye drops and oral medications, face challenges including poor bioavailability, low patient compliance, and limited efficacy. In recent years, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising approach to overcome these limitations and revolutionize glaucoma treatment. In this narrative review, we present an overview of the novel nanotechnologies employed in the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma. Various nanosystems, including liposomes, niosomes, nanoparticles, and other nanostructured carriers, have been developed to enhance the delivery and bioavailability of antiglaucoma drugs. They offer advantages such as a high drug loading capacity, sustained release, improved corneal permeability, and targeted drug delivery to the ocular tissues. The application of nanotechnologies in glaucoma treatment represents a transformative approach that addresses the limitations of conventional therapies. However, further research is needed to optimize the formulations, evaluate long-term safety, and implement these nanotechnologies into clinical practice. With continued advancements in nanotechnology, the future holds great potential for improving the management and outcomes of glaucoma, ultimately preserving vision and improving the lives of millions affected by this debilitating disease.

Fixed High Energy Versus Standard Titrated Energy Settings for Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty

PRCIS

Fixed high-energy selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is associated with a greater reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP) compared with the standard titrated approach at up to 36 months postprocedure.

PURPOSE

There is no consensus on ideal SLT procedural laser energy settings. This study aims to compare fixed high-energy SLT to the standard titrated-energy approach within the setting of a residency training program.

PATIENTS

Patients over the age of 18 years received SLT between 2011 and 2017, a total of 354 eyes. Patients with a prior history of SLT were excluded.

METHODS

Retrospective review of clinical data from 354 eyes that underwent SLT. Eyes that underwent SLT using fixed high energy (1.2 mJ/spot) were compared with those with the standard titrated approach starting at 0.8 mJ/spot and titrating to "champagne" bubbles. The entirety of the angle was treated using a Lumenis laser set to the SLT setting (532 nm). No repeat treatments were included.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

IOP and glaucoma medications.

RESULTS

In our residency training program, fixed high-energy SLT was associated with a reduction in IOP compared with a baseline of -4.65 (±4.49, n = 120), -3.79 (±4.49, n = 109), and -4.40 (±5.01, n =119) while standard titrated-energy was associated with IOP reduction of -2.07 (±5.06, n = 133), -2.67 (±5.28, n = 107), and -1.88 (±4.96, n = 115) at each respective postprocedural time point (12, 24, and 36 months). The fixed high-energy SLT group had significantly greater IOP reduction at 12 months and 36 months. The same comparison was performed for medication naïve individuals. For these individuals, fixed high-energy SLT resulted in IOP reductions of -6.88 (±3.72, n = 47), -6.01 (±3.80, n = 41), and -6.52 (±4.10, n = 46) while standard titrated-energy had IOP reductions of -3.82 (±4.51, n = 25), -1.85 (±4.88, n = 20), and -0.65 (±4.64, n = 27). For medication naïve individuals, fixed high-energy SLT resulted in a significantly greater reduction in IOP at each respective time point. Complication rates (IOP spike, iritis, and macular edema) were similar between the two groups. The study is limited by overall poor response to standard-energy treatments, whereas high-energy treatments showed similar efficacy to those in literature.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that fixed-energy SLT produces at least equivalent results compared with the standard-energy approach, without an increase in adverse outcomes. Particularly in the medication naïve subpopulation, fixed-energy SLT was associated with a significantly greater IOP reduction at each respective time point. The study is limited by overall poor response to standard-energy treatments, with our results showing decreased IOP reduction compared with those of previous studies. These poor outcomes of the standard SLT group may be responsible for our conclusion that fixed high-energy SLT results in a greater reduction in IOP. These results may be useful when considering optimal SLT procedural energy in future studies for validation.

Fixed versus Unfixed Combination of Topical Latanoprost/Timolol for Glaucoma: An Observational Study Investigating the Level of Adherence and Ocular Surface Health

PURPOSE

To investigate the effect of fixed combination versus concomitant unfixed topical glaucoma treatment on patients' adherence and ocular surface health.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a 6-month, prospective, parallel-group, observational study in patients with ocular hypertension (OHT), primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), or exfoliation glaucoma (XFG). A total of 142 patients with similar baseline characteristics were enrolled in this study. Seventy-one patients received a Latanoprost 0.005%/Timolol 0.5% fixed combination in the evening, whereas seventy-one patients received the unfixed treatment with Latanoprost 0.005% in the evening and Timolol 0.5% twice daily. The primary outcome was the adherence rate at baseline, and at the 3- and 6-month follow-up visits. The secondary outcomes included the signs of ocular surface disease (OSD) and intraocular pressure (IOP).

RESULTS

The adherence of patients treated with the fixed combination was higher than the unfixed treatment at the 3-month (78.0% vs. 63.0%, p < 0.001) and at the 6-month visits (73.0% vs. 58.5%, p < 0.01). The Break-up Time, Schirmer test, and Van Bijsterveld score were worse in the unfixed group at baseline and all subsequent examinations (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). There were no differences in the mean IOP between groups at baseline, 1-, and 3-month visits. IOP appears higher in the unfixed group at 6 months (16.7 vs. 15.0 mmHg, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The patients with ocular hypertension and primary open-angle glaucoma treated with a fixed combination are significantly more adherent and show a healthier ocular surface than those treated with an unfixed combination. The study provides significant evidence of the benefits of fixed combination treatment.

Sustained release of brimonidine from polydimethylsiloxane-coating silicone rubber implant to reduce intraocular pressure in glaucoma

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness, affecting 111 million people by 2040 worldwide. Intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only controllable risk factor for the disease and current treatment options seek to reduce IOP via daily taking eye drops. However, shortcomings of eye drops, such as poor bioavailability and unsatisfied therapeutic effects, may lead to inadequate patient compliance. In this study, an effective brimonidine (BRI)-loaded silicone rubber (SR) implant coated with polydimethylsiloxane (BRI@SR@PDMS) is designed and fully investigated for IOP reduction treatment. The in vitro BRI release from BRI@SR@PDMS implant reveals a more sustainable trend lasting over 1 month, with a gradually declined immediate drug concentration. The carrier materials show no cytotoxicity on human corneal epithelial cells and mice corneal epithelial cells in vitro. After administrated into rabbit's conjunctival sac, the BRI@SR@PDMS implant releases BRI in a sustained fashion and effectively reduces IOP for 18 days with great biosafety. In contrast, BRI eye drops only maintain IOP-lowering effect for 6 h. Therefore, as a substitute of eye drops, the BRI@SR@PDMS implant can be applied as a promising non-invasive platform to achieve long-term IOP-lowering in patients suffering from ocular hypertension or glaucoma.

The Support, Educate, Empower personalized glaucoma coaching trial design

BACKGROUND

Glaucoma is a chronic disease that affects 3 million Americans. Glaucoma is most often asymptomatic until very late in its course when treatment is more difficult and extensive peripheral vision loss has already occurred. Taking daily medications can mitigate this vision loss, but at least half of people with glaucoma do not take their prescribed medications regularly. The purpose of this study is to improve glaucoma medication adherence among those with medically treated glaucoma and poor self-reported adherence using the Support, Educate, Empower personalized coaching program.

METHODS/DESIGN

This study is a two-site randomized controlled trial enrolling 230 participants with poor self-reported glaucoma medication adherence. The trial has two arms, an intervention arm and a control arm. Participants in the intervention arm receive personalized glaucoma education and motivational interviewing-based coaching over 6 months from a trained non-physician interventionist for three in-person sessions with between visit phone calls for check-ins where current adherence level is reported to participants. Participants also can elect to have visual, audio, text or automated phone call medication dose reminders. Participants in the control arm continue usual care with their physician and receive non-personalized glaucoma educational materials via mail in parallel to the three in-person coaching sessions to control for glaucoma knowledge content. All participants receive a medication adherence monitor. The primary outcome is the proportion of prescribed doses taken on schedule during the 6-month period. The secondary outcome is glaucoma related distress. The exploratory outcome is intraocular pressure.

DISCUSSION

The personalized education and motivational-interviewing-based intervention that we are testing is comprehensive in that it addresses the wide range of barriers to adherence that people with glaucoma encounter. Leveraging a custom-built web-based application to generate the personalized content and the motivational-interviewing-based prompts to guide the coaching sessions will make this program both replicable and scalable and can be integrated into clinical care utilizing trained non-physician providers. Although this type of self-management support is not currently reimbursed for glaucoma as it is for diabetes, this trial could help shape future policy change should the intervention be found effective.

Intraocular nano-microscale drug delivery systems for glaucoma treatment: design strategies and recent progress

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible visual impairment and blindness, affecting over 76.0 million people worldwide in 2020, with a predicted increase to 111.8 million by 2040. Hypotensive eye drops remain the gold standard for glaucoma treatment, while inadequate patient adherence to medication regimens and poor bioavailability of drugs to target tissues are major obstacles to effective treatment outcomes. Nano/micro-pharmaceuticals, with diverse spectra and abilities, may represent a hope of removing these obstacles. This review describes a set of intraocular nano/micro drug delivery systems involved in glaucoma treatment. Particularly, it investigates the structures, properties, and preclinical evidence supporting the use of these systems in glaucoma, followed by discussing the route of administration, the design of systems, and factors affecting in vivo performance. Finally, it concludes by highlighting the emerging notion as an attractive approach to address the unmet needs for managing glaucoma.

Glaucoma Medication Adherence 1 Year after the Support, Educate, Empower Personalized Glaucoma Coaching Program

PURPOSE

To assess the efficacy of the Support, Educate, Empower (SEE) glaucoma coaching program on medication adherence among poorly adherent patients with glaucoma for 12 months after cessation of the intervention.

DESIGN

Uncontrolled intervention study with a pre-post design.

PARTICIPANTS

The SEE cohort was recruited from the University of Michigan and included patients with glaucoma aged ≥ 40 years, taking ≥ 1 medication, who self-reported poor adherence. Electronic medication monitoring of those who completed the program continued for up to 1 year after the coaching intervention.

METHODS

Adherence was monitored electronically (AdhereTech) during the 7-month program and 12-month follow-up period. Adherence was the percentage of doses taken on time. Participants were censored for surgery, change in glaucoma medications, or adherence monitor disuse. The SEE program included automated medication reminders, 3 in-person motivational interviewing-based counseling sessions with a glaucoma coach, and 5 phone calls with the coach for between-session support. There was no contact between the study team and participants during the 12-month follow-up after program cessation. Baseline participant characteristics were summarized with descriptive statistics. Paired t tests and Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to investigate significant changes in monthly adherence during follow-up.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Change in electronically monitored medication adherence over the 12 months following the conclusion of the SEE program.

RESULTS

Of 48 participants, 39 (81%) completed the SEE program and continued electronic medication monitoring for up to 1 year after program cessation. The mean age of the participants was 64 years (standard deviation [SD], 10); of the 39 participants, 56% were male, 49% were Black, and 44% were White. The mean length of follow-up was 284 days (SD, 110; range, 41-365 days). Censoring occurred in 18 (56%) participants. The mean adherence during the follow-up period was 67% (SD, 22%). This was significantly lower than the adherence during the SEE program (mean, 81%; SD, 18%; P < 0.0001) but significantly higher than the baseline preprogram adherence (mean, 60%; SD, 18%; P = 0.0393). The largest monthly losses occurred at months 1 (mean, 7%; P = 0.0001) and 4 (mean, 6%; P = 0.0077).

CONCLUSIONS

Glaucoma medication adherence decreased significantly in the year after cessation of the SEE coaching program but remained significantly higher than baseline adherence. To maintain excellent long-term medication adherence, intermittent reinforcement sessions may be necessary.

Sustained release glaucoma therapies: Novel modalities for overcoming key treatment barriers associated with topical medications

Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy and a leading cause of irreversible blindness. The disease has conventionally been characterized by an elevated intraocular pressure (IOP); however, recent research has built the consensus that glaucoma is not only dependent on IOP but rather represents a multifactorial optic neuropathy. Although many risk factors have been identified ranging from demographics to co-morbidities to ocular structural predispositions, IOP is currently the only modifiable risk factor, most often treated by topical IOP-lowering medications. However, topical hypotensive regimens are prone to non-adherence and are largely inefficient, leading to disease progression in spite of treatment. As a result, several companies are developing sustained release (SR) drug delivery systems as alternatives to topical delivery to potentially overcome these barriers. Currently, Bimatoprost SR (Durysta^TM) from Allergan plc is the only FDA-approved SR therapy for POAG. Other SR therapies under investigation include: bimatoprost ocular ring (Allergan) (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01915940), iDose^® (Glaukos Corporation) (NCT03519386), ENV515 (Envisia Therapeutics) (NCT02371746), OTX-TP (Ocular Therapeutix) (NCT02914509), OTX-TIC (Ocular Therapeutix) (NCT04060144), and latanoprost free acid SR (PolyActiva) (NCT04060758). Additionally, a wide variety of technologies for SR therapeutics are under investigation including ocular surface drug delivery systems such as contact lenses and nanotechnology. While challenges remain for SR drug delivery technology in POAG management, this technology may shift treatment paradigms and dramatically improve outcomes.

Within-Trial Cost-Effectiveness of an Adherence-Enhancing Educational Intervention for Glaucoma

PURPOSE

To assess the within-trial cost-effectiveness of a behavioral intervention to improve glaucoma medication adherence.

DESIGN

Prospective cost-effectiveness analysis of randomized, controlled trial data.

METHODS

The study setting was a Veterans Affairs (VA) eye clinic. The patient population comprised veterans with medically treated glaucoma and self-reported poor adherence. Participants were randomized to a personalized educational session with a reminder bottle to promote medication adherence or to a control session on general eye health. Costs were assessed from the perspective of the VA payor at 6 months using the VA Managerial Cost Accounting System. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted using bootstrapped samples. The main outcome measures were the proportion of participants attaining ≥80% adherence as measured by electronic monitor, total intervention and medical resource costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios comparing intervention to control at 6 months.

RESULTS

Of 200 randomized participants, 95 of 100 assigned to the intervention and 97 of 100 assigned to the control had adherence outcomes at 6 months, and the proportion of adherent patients was higher in the intervention group compared to control (0.78 vs 0.40, P < .0001). All participants had costs at 6 months. The total cost at 6 months was $1,149,600 in the intervention group (n = 100) compared to $1,298,700 in the control group (n = 100). Thus, in a hypothetical cohort of 100 patients, the intervention was associated with cost savings (-$149,100) and resulted in 38 additional patients achieving medication adherence.

CONCLUSIONS

An adherence-enhancing behavioral intervention was effective and cost saving at 6 months.

Six months' follow-up of combined phacoemulsification-kahook dual blade excisional goniotomy

PURPOSE

This study reports on the combination of excisional goniotomy and cataract extraction in the management of glaucoma in terms of intraocular pressure (IOP) and glaucoma medication reduction.

METHODS

This is a retrospective case series. Twenty-eight eyes of 22 patients with the diagnosis of cataract and ocular hypertension or glaucoma of any stage underwent combined phacoemulsification and Kahook Dual Blade (KDB) goniotomy, between March 2019 and September 2020. The parameters evaluated were postoperative best-corrected visual acuity, mean IOP reduction, number of IOP-lowering medications, and the surgical success rate defined as IOP reduction >20% and/or reduction in glaucoma medications >1.

RESULTS

The mean IOP reduction at 6 months was 4.5 mmHg (P = 0.0007), which translates to 24.9% reduction from preoperative IOP. The mean preoperative number of glaucoma medications was 2.9 ± 1.0 (median of 3). It was reduced to 1.1 ± 1.1 (median of 1.5), 1.46 ± 1.17 (median of 2), 1.44 ± 1.28 (median of 2), and 1.56 ± 1.28 (median of 2) at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months, respectively. Twenty-nine percent (8/28) of the patients were off glaucoma medications at 6 months and 46% (13/28) had a reduction of more than 50% of their glaucoma medications.

CONCLUSION

Combined phacoemulsification-KDB excisional goniotomy may be an effective and safe alternative to more invasive filtering surgery in glaucoma patients of any stage.

Daily Meditation Practice for Managing Glaucoma- patients' Attitudes and Acceptance

PRECIS

63% of glaucoma patients agreed to 45-60 minutes of daily meditation. Predictors of accepting meditation included previous meditation practice, a diagnosis of glaucoma <1 year, and having a marital status of "single".

PURPOSE

To explore patients' acceptance and barriers towards 45-60 minutes daily meditation for glaucoma management and to identify glaucoma patients with higher perceived stress levels who may benefit more from meditation practice.

METHODS

Glaucoma patients attending the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia outpatient department were invited to complete a patient survey. This explored if patients would agree to 45-60 minutes of daily meditation and included the Determinants of Meditation Practice Inventory and Perceived Stress Scale questionnaires. Questionnaire scores were compared across participants' clinical and demographic characteristics using student's T-Test, ANOVA, and multiple-linear-regression analysis.

RESULTS

Of the 123 eligible patients screened, one hundred completed the survey (81.3%). Sixty-three (63%) patients would agree to 45-60 minutes of daily meditation if advised by their doctor. Univariate analysis showed increased acceptance of meditation (lower Determinants of Meditation Practice Inventory scores) to be associated with agreeing to meditate 45-60 minutes daily (P=0.002), currently or previously practicing meditation (P=0.006 and P=0.0004 respectively), and having a marital status of "single" (P=0.02). Multi variate regression analysis showed previous meditation practice and a glaucoma diagnosis of <1 year to be predictive of accepting meditation (P=0.01 and P=0.03 respectively). There were no predictive factors of Perceived Stress Scale scores.

CONCLUSION

Given the high acceptance rate of 45-60 minutes daily meditation (63% of glaucoma patients sampled), this may be recommended for benefit of patients. Patients who have previously meditated, have a relatively new diagnosis of glaucoma, and are single (marital status) were more accepting of meditation practice.

A Review of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty: "The Hype Is Real"

Presently, there is no efficacious treatment for glaucomatous optic neuropathy; the current treatment is focused on lowering intraocular pressure (IOP). Studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in reducing the IOP in eyes with open-angle (OAG) glaucoma or ocular hypertension (OH). Moreover, the European Glaucoma Society has instated SLT as the first-line or adjunctive treatment in OAG or OH, reiterating its clinical significance. In this review, we outline the old and the new roles of SLT, with an emphasis on clinical practice, and look further into its renewed appeal and future developments.

Long-term results of micropulse laser trabeculoplasty with 577-nm yellow wavelength in patients with uncontrolled primary open-angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma

Our aim was to evaluate the long-term results of micropulse laser trabeculoplasty (MLT) with 577-nm yellow wavelength in the treatment of glaucoma. We reviewed the medical records of 51 patients (51 eyes) with uncontrolled primary open-angle glaucoma or pseudoexfoliation glaucoma who underwent 180° MLT for the first time. The success of MLT was defined as an IOP reduction of ≥ 20% and IOP < 21 mmHg after treatment. If the number of medications was increased or further laser trabeculoplasty or glaucoma surgery was required after treatment, the case was considered unsuccessful. The mean duration of patient follow-up was 18.39 ± 12.17 months (range 3-52 months). Patients included in the study used 2-4 types of antiglaucoma eye drops (mean 3.43 ± 0.7). The mean number of MLT spots was 65.54 ± 6.19, and the mean energy level was 750.98 ± 101.73 mJ. The decrease in intraocular pressure compared to baseline measurements was: 16.72 ± 11.87%, 15.07 ± 13.76%, 12.63 ± 14.29%, 16.66 ± 19.32%, and 16.75 ± 19.78% during follow-up at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36-48 months. Successful response was achieved in 35.41%, 36.95%, 34.21%, 40%, 41.17%, and 42.85% of patients during 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36-48 months of follow-ups, respectively. Of the 51 eyes studied, 12 patients (23.5%) underwent post-MLT glaucoma surgery, and 7 patients (13.7%) had cataract surgery, whose follow-up data were subsequently censored. The reduction of intraocular pressure showed a significant correlation with baseline intraocular pressure, while age and laser power showed no correlation (p > 0.05). MLT is a novel treatment option for patients with glaucoma with favorable long-term outcomes and a good safety profile.

Sustained release of brimonidine from BRI@SR@TPU implant for treatment of glaucoma

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss worldwide, and reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only factor that can be interfered to delay disease progression. As the first line and preferred method to treat glaucoma, eye drops have many shortcomings, such as low bioavailability, poor patient compliance, and unsustainable therapeutic effect. In this study, a highly efficient brimonidine (BRI) silicone rubber implant (BRI@SR@TPU implant) has been designed, prepared, characterized, and administrated for sustained relief of IOP to treat glaucoma. The in vitro BRI release from BRI@SR@TPU implants shows a sustainable release profile for up to 35 d, with decreased burst release and increased immediate drug concentration. The carrier materials are not cytotoxic to human corneal epithelial cells and conjunctival epithelial cells, and show good biocompatibility, which can be safely administrated into rabbit’s conjunctival sac. The BRI@SR@TPU implant sustainably released BRI and effectively reduced IOP for 18 d (72 times) compared to the commercial BRI eye drops (6 h). The BRI@SR@TPU implant is thus a promising noninvasive platform product for long-term IOP-reducing in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

Objective measurement of adherence to topical steroid medication after penetrating keratoplasty using an electronic monitoring aid: A pilot study

Objectives

Corneal transplantation is the most common transplant worldwide and its success critically depends on the management of corneal graft rejection through topical steroid therapy during the first 12 months after surgery. There is currently no published data on adherence after keratoplasty. This pilot study aims to explore the adherence to topical steroid after penetrating keratoplasty using a smart electronic device.

Methods

Thirty patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty were included to evaluate the adherence to topical dexamethasone medication for 12 months after surgery. Patients received the usual post-transplantation treatment (topical dexamethasone) and follow-up after surgery (day 15, months 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 12). Adherence to treatment was monitored using the KaliJAR device (Kali Care, Santa Clara, CA, USA), which recorded the number of single-dose units (SDU) discarded. At control visits, data recorded by the device were compared to the manually count of SDU. Adherence ratio and individual adherence curve were explored for all patients.

Results

Data from 27 patients showed a high agreement between adherence ratio calculated based on the device data and obtained from manual counting of the discarded SDU (intraclass coefficient correlation of 0.87 [95% CI: 0.738–0.938]). Mean adherence to the treatment over the 12-month study period was 95.2 ± 4%.

Conclusions

Adherence to topical dexamethasone for 12 months after corneal transplantation was high. The connected device was able to record accurately the discarded SDU. This approach would be a particular interest in the early identification and personalized follow-up of poorly adherent patients.

Medication Adherence Among Patients With Corneal Diseases

PURPOSE

Medication nonadherence is a ubiquitous problem. However, the adherence of patients to medications to manage corneal conditions is unknown. A prospective cohort study investigated the patterns of eye drop adherence among patients with corneal conditions.

METHODS

Patients older than or equal to 18 years taking prescription eye medications were recruited from an academic center's corneal clinic. Data collected included age, sex, total doses of eye medications, and category of primary corneal diagnosis. Participants completed adapted versions of the 12-question Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale (ARMS) and the 3-question Voils' Medication Adherence Scale (VMAS). Survey data were dichotomized as "adherent" and "nonadherent," and subscales reported for reasons of nonadherence. Logistic regression analyses were used to test associations with adherence.

RESULTS

A total of 199 participants were surveyed from February to March 2019 (95% response rate). Participants were aged 19 to 93 years with a mean age of 59 years (SD 17.8). The percent of participants considered nonadherent was 72% by the ARMS and 33% by the VMAS. Older age was associated with higher adherence by the ARMS (odds ratio = 1.48, 95% confidence interval, 1.14-1.93, P = 0.004) and by the VMAS (odds ratio = 1.24, confidence interval, 1.04-1.48, P = 0.012). Adherence was not significantly associated with race, sex, education, total doses of eye medications, or primary cornea diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Medication adherence was lower than expected, particularly on the ARMS scale that asks more detailed questions. Clinicians should engage in conversations about adherence, especially with younger patients, if they are not seeing an expected clinical response.

Topical Medication Adherence and Visual Field Progression in Open-angle Glaucoma: Analysis of a Large US Health Care System

PRCIS

Modeling of visual field and pharmacy data (Kaiser Permanente, 2001 to 2014) from open-angle/pseudoexfoliation glaucoma patients in clinical practice indicated a significant inverse association between the level of medication adherence and rate of visual field progression.

PURPOSE

The aim was to quantify the effect of nonadherence to topical hypotensive medication on glaucomatous visual field progression in clinical practice.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of combined visual field and pharmacy data from Kaiser Permanente Southern California's HealthConnect electronic health record database. Patients with a diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma or pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (2001 to 2011) and ≥3 subsequent visual field tests of the same Swedish Interactive Threshold Algorithm type were followed up from first medication fill to final visual field test. Medication adherence (proportion of days covered) was estimated from pharmacy refill data. A conditional growth model was used to estimate the effect of adherence level in modifying the progression of mean deviation over time after adjusting for potential confounders, including age, sex, race/ethnicity, baseline glaucoma severity, and comorbidity.

RESULTS

In total, 6343 eligible patients were included in the study and followed for (mean) 5.8 years; average treatment adherence during follow-up was 73%. After controlling for confounders and the interaction between time and baseline disease severity, the model indicated that mean deviation progression was significantly (P=0.006) reduced by 0.006 dB per year for each 10% (absolute) increase in adherence. Model estimates of time to glaucoma progression (mean deviation change -3 dB from baseline) were 8.3 and 9.3 years for patients with adherence levels of 20% and 80%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Improving patient adherence to topical glaucoma medication may result in slower deterioration in visual function over time.

Ultrasound and Microbubbles for the Treatment of Ocular Diseases: From Preclinical Research towards Clinical Application

The unique anatomy of the eye and the presence of various biological barriers make efficacious ocular drug delivery challenging, particularly in the treatment of posterior eye diseases. This review focuses on the combination of ultrasound and microbubbles (USMB) as a minimally invasive method to improve the efficacy and targeting of ocular drug delivery. An extensive overview is given of the in vitro and in vivo studies investigating the mechanical effects of ultrasound-driven microbubbles aiming to: (i) temporarily disrupt the blood–retina barrier in order to enhance the delivery of systemically administered drugs into the eye, (ii) induce intracellular uptake of anticancer drugs and macromolecules and (iii) achieve targeted delivery of genes, for the treatment of ocular malignancies and degenerative diseases. Finally, the safety and tolerability aspects of USMB, essential for the translation of USMB to the clinic, are discussed.

Design, development, and characterization of an idebenone-loaded poly-ε-caprolactone intravitreal implant as a new therapeutic approach for LHON treatment

Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) is a hereditary mitochondrial neurodegenerative disease of unclear etiology and lack of available therapeutic alternatives. The main goal of the current pilot study was based on the evaluation of the feasibility and characteristics of prolonged and controlled idebenone release from a PCL intravitreal implant. The design, development, and characterization of idebenone-loaded PCL implants prepared by an homogenization/extrusion/solvent evaporation method allowed the obtention of high PY, EE and LC values. In vitro characterization was completed by the assessment of mechanical and instrumental properties. The in vitro release of idebenone from the PCL implants was assessed and the implant erosion was monitored by the mass loss and surface morphology changes. DSC was used to estimate stability and interaction among implant's components. The present work demonstrated the controlled and prolonged idebenone delivery from the PCL implants in an in vitro model. A consistent preclinical base was established, supporting the idea of idebenone-loaded PCL implants as a new strategy of long-term sustained intraocular delivery for the LHON treatment.

Repeat Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty for Glaucoma Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Aim and objective

To evaluate repeat selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) for treating primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Materials and methods

PubMed, CINAHL, and EMBASE were systematically searched along with grey literature. All English articles that measured intraocular pressure (IOP) before and after repeat SLT on adult patients with POAG were included. Studies were not filtered by location or publication date. Covidence was used to screen imported articles. Risk of bias assessment and data extraction was performed after screening. Meta-analysis was performed using STATA 16.0. Fixed-effect or random-effects models were developed depending on the presence of heterogeneity.

Results

Database and grey literature search identified 512 unique studies. After duplicate removal and screening, 12 articles were included and data from included studies were synthesized. Nine articles were included in the meta-analysis. Three studies were prospective observational studies, and nine studies were retrospective chart reviews. Due to the presence of heterogeneity, a random-effects model has been utilized that suggested significant IOP reduction (IOPR) by repeat SLT at 24 months follow-up.

Conclusion

Based on our results, repeat SLT could be an effective procedure in reducing IOP for patients with glaucoma for up to 24 months. Efficacy of third, fourth, or further SLT remains to be verified. More data from long-term, high-quality randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) are required to make conclusions.

Clinical significance

Repeat SLT may be an effective treatment for lowering IOP with minimal complications or safety issues. This may allow the use of SLT as a primary treatment for POGA, allowing the discontinuation of medications or eye drops and lead to additional benefits.

How to cite this article

Jang HJ, Yu B, Hodge W, et al. Repeat Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty for Glaucoma Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2021;15(3):117–124.

Lifestyle Counseling for Medication Adherence in Glaucoma

Background

Medication adherence in glaucoma patients remains sub-par despite proven benefits of regular administration. The objective was to analyze medication adherence before and after lifestyle counseling in patients with ocular hypertension (OHT) or primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) (mild, moderate, severe).

Methods

Prospective cohort study from May to July 2018 at a single academic center. From 391 consecutive records, 247 were excluded based on exclusion criteria with 28 patients not meeting inclusion criteria resulting in the final sample of 116 patients (33 had OHT, 83 had POAG – 28 mild, 39 moderate, 16 severe). Scripted lifestyle counseling focusing on diet, exercise, vitamin intake, stress management, and medication adherence was administered by a team of trained medical students. Primary outcome measure was self-reported medication adherence, defined as not missing an eye drop administration in the past month. A 2–3 week follow-up with scripted telephone survey assessing medication adherence, diet, and exercise was collected.

Results

At baseline, in 116 patients, 59.5% were adherent to their medication with a breakdown of 42.4% OHT, 64.3% mild, 66.7% moderate, and 68.7% severe and an increasing trend in medication adherence was found across increasing disease severity (p=0.055). Of the 76 (65.5%) patients reached for follow-up, 17 (22.4%) became adherent following lifestyle counseling (p=0.02) increasing overall adherence to 78.9% from 62.5%.

Conclusion

In our study, comprehensive lifestyle counseling succeeded in increasing medication adherence in patients with OHT and POAG.

Fast and accurate ophthalmic medication bottle identification using deep learning on a smartphone device

PURPOSE

To assess the accuracy and efficacy of deep learning models, specifically convolutional neural networks, to identify glaucoma medication bottles.

DESIGN

Algorithm development for predicting ophthalmic medication bottles using a large mobile image-based dataset.

SUBJECTS

A total of 3,750 mobile images of 5 ophthalmic medication bottles: brimonidine tartrate, dorzolamide-timolol, latanoprost, prednisolone acetate, and moxifloxacin, were included.

METHODS

Seven CNN models were initially pretrained on a large-scale image database and subsequently retrained to classify five commonly prescribed topical ophthalmic medications using a training dataset of 2,250 mobile-phone captured images. The retrained CNN models' accuracies were compared using k-fold cross-validation (k=10). The top two performing CNN models were then embedded into separate iOS apps and evaluated using 1,500 mobile images not included in the training dataset.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Prediction accuracy, image processing time RESULTS: Of the seven CNN architectures, MobileNet v2 yielded the highest k-fold cross-validation accuracy of 0.974 (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 0.966 to 0.980) and the shortest average image processing time at 3.45 (95% CI, 3.13 to 3.77) sec/image. ResNetV2 had the second highest accuracy of 0.961 (95% CI, 0.952 to 0.969). When the two app-embedded CNNs are compared, in terms of accuracy, MobileNetV2, with an image prediction accuracy of 0.86 (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 0.84 to 0.88), was significantly greater than ResNetV2, 0.68 (95% CI, 0.66 to 0.71). (Table 1). Sensitivities and specificities varied between medications (Table 1). There was no significant difference in average imaging processing time, 0.32 (95% CI, 0.28 to 0.36) sec/image and 0.31 (95% CI, 0.29 to 0.33) sec/image for MobileNetV2 and ResNetV2, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We have retrained MobileNetV2 to accurately identify ophthalmic medication bottles and demonstrated that this neural network can operate in a smartphone environment. This work serves as a proof-of-concept for the production of a CNN-based smartphone application to empower patients by increasing productivity and decreasing risk for error.

A cost-effectiveness analysis of iStent inject combined with phacoemulsification cataract surgery in patients with mild-to-moderate open-angle glaucoma in France

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the cost-effectiveness of implementing iStent inject trabecular bypass stent (TBS) in conjunction with cataract surgery (Cat Sx) in patients with mild-to-moderate glaucoma from a societal perspective in France. The secondary objective was to explore the economic impact of iStent inject TBS in patients who comply to different degrees with their anti-glaucoma medications.

METHODS

A previously published Markov model was adapted to estimate the cost-effectiveness of treatment with iStent inject TBS + Cat Sx versus Cat Sx alone over a lifetime time horizon in patients with mild-to-moderate open-angle glaucoma in France. Progression was modeled by health states reflecting increasing stages of vision loss. Disease progression was obtained from the two-year randomized clinical trial assessing safety and effectiveness of both interventions. French specific health-state utilities and costs were obtained through a targeted literature review. Model structure and inputs were validated by French ophthalmologists. Outcomes were expressed as incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained. The robustness of results was tested through sensitivity analyses.

RESULTS

iStent inject TBS + Cat Sx reduced the number of medications needed and risk of blindness. Incremental cost and QALYs were €75 and 0.065 leading to an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of €1,154/QALY gained. ICER ranged from dominating for non-persistent patients to €31,127 patients fully persistent with their medication regime. Results from one-way sensitivity analysis had a maximum ICER of €29,000 when varying input parameters. iStent inject TBS + Cat Sx had an 86% chance of being cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of €30,000 per QALY gained.

CONCLUSION

Results demonstrate that iStent inject TBS + Cat Sx is a cost-effective intervention for intraocular pressure reduction when compared to Cat Sx alone in France.

A novel EyePhone© App for improving adherence to glaucoma therapy

PURPOSE

Despite advances in glaucoma treatment options, patient adherence and compliance remain very low. The EyePhone© App is a free non-commercial reminder application designed specifically for the needs of glaucoma patients. In this study, we evaluated its usefulness in improving adherence to medical treatment among glaucoma patients.

METHODS

This is a prospective multicenter interventional study. Glaucoma patients were recruited from a tertiary center and a large community glaucoma service center. After a short explanation, the EyePhone© App was installed on their smartphone device, and the notifications for the current medical treatment were entered. After enrollment and at 1-month follow-up, subjects completed the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) and the Quality of Life and Glaucoma 17-item (GlauQOL-17) questionnaires for evaluation of adherence and QOL, respectively.

RESULTS

In the study, 133 patients (71 men and 62 women) aged 62±15.5 years and using 2.0±0.9 IOP-lowering drugs participated. The proportion of highly adherent subjects improved from 29.3% (39/133) at baseline to 42.1% (56/133) at follow-up (P < 0.001), and the proportion of poorly adherent subjects decreased from 29.3 (39/133) to 20.3% (27/133) at follow-up (P = 0.012). QOL also improved, as evidenced by a significant increase in the GlauQOL-17 score (P < 0.05). In a subgroup of patients for whom IOP measurements were available, IOP reduced by 0.92 mmHg (P = 0.069).

CONCLUSIONS

Significant improvements in glaucoma adherence and QOL were achieved among poorly adherent glaucoma patients after 1 month of using the EyePhone© App.

Evaluation of early medication persistence with omidenepag isopropyl, a topical selective prostaglandin EP2 agonist, in patients with glaucoma: a retrospective two-institute study

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated early medication persistence with new topical antiglaucoma eyedrops, omidenepag isopropyl 0.002% (a selective prostaglandin EP2 agonist).

DESIGN AND SETTING

Retrospective two-institute study in Himeji and Akashi in Japan.

PARTICIPANTS

We analysed patients with glaucoma who were prescribed topical omidenepag isopropyl from November 2018 to December 2019. From the last outpatient visit of patients until February 2020, 235 patients were prescribed a new solution of omidenepag isopropyl (129 patients in the initial monotherapy group, 85 in the switching group (switched from another topical antiglaucoma eyedrops), 19 added to another topical antiglaucoma eyedrops group, and 2 were lost to follow-up)). Additionally, we recruited 98 patients (3 were lost to follow-up) who received initial latanoprost 0.005% monotherapy during the same period as a control group.

OUTCOMES

Medication persistence failure was defined as drug discontinuation due to any adverse effects or change of therapy. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed with a Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

Among 233 patients, 48 (20%) showed failure of treatment; the median persistence time of all patients was 165 days, and the median time until discontinuation of omidenepag isopropyl was 45 days. The total persistence rates were 85%, 80% and 70% at 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively. Risk factors for failure were male gender (HR: 1.45, p=0.023) and monotherapy/switching (HR: 1.715, p=0.002). Comparison between latanoprost and omidenepag isopropyl monotherapy, only male gender (HR: 1.43, p=0.016) was a significant risk factor. Failures associated with omidenepag isopropyl were due to insufficient intraocular pressure-lowering efficiency (n=26, observed during all the period), followed by conjunctival hyperaemia (n=10) and visual acuity disturbance (n=5) in patients who were observed until 3 months.

CONCLUSION

Medication persistence with omidenepag isopropyl is mostly positive; however, clinicians should also be cautious of early failure.

Improving Adherence to Topical Medication in Patients with Glaucoma

The glaucomas form a heterogenous group of conditions, which collectively account for one of the most common irreversible causes of blindness worldwide. The only treatment, for which there is evidence, to stop or slow glaucomatous disease progression is to lower intraocular pressure (IOP); this is most often initially achieved with topical medication. Adherence to anti-glaucoma therapy is known to be low even when compared with adherence to therapy for other chronic conditions. We performed a PubMed search to review evidence as to how adherence to and persistence with anti-glaucoma medications might be improved. Approaches to improving adherence include technological (such as using smart drop bottles or automated reminders) use of instillation aids, improving communication with patient education and improving tolerability of eye drop formulations. There is limited short-term evidence that automated reminders can be effective and, unfortunately, instillation aids have not proved to be efficacious with respect to improving adherence. A range of factors have been identified which affect adherence and persistence, although only a multi-faceted approach has proven evidence of efficacy, compared to improved patient education alone. There is now a wider range of available preservative-free eye drops, which have been shown to be non-inferior in achieving IOP control, with fewer side effects and improved short-term adherence. Further studies relating to adherence are warranted, particularly given the projected increase in glaucoma prevalence worldwide.

Adherence and Persistence with First-Line Therapy and Compliance with Glaucoma Guidelines Using Japanese Health Care/Pharmacy Claims Database

Purpose: This study evaluated Japanese patients' adherence to first-line therapy and physicians' compliance with the guidelines (GLs) for glaucoma in daily practice.

Methods: This retrospective, noninterventional cohort study used a Japanese health care/pharmacy claims database from 2011 to 2016. We compared adherence based on the primary outcomes assessed as proportion of days covered (PDC) and persistence between patients who received first-line monotherapy followed by second-line fixed-combination therapy (GL-compliant cohort) and those who received first-line fixed-combination therapy (GL-noncompliant cohort). Furthermore, we explored treatment patterns, glaucoma consultation, and key factors associated with GL noncompliance.

Results: Among 11,666 patients who received first-line therapy, 1,183 (10.1%) and 542 (4.6%) were in the GL-compliant and GL-noncompliant cohorts, respectively. Prostaglandin (70.7%) and subsequent prostaglandin/β blocker (BB) (20.9%) within 12 months were most used by the GL-compliant cohort. Prostaglandin/BB (48.9%) and carbonic anhydrase inhibitor/BB (51.1%) were prescribed for the GL-noncompliant cohort. The mean PDC [standard deviation (SD)], persistence rate (95% confidence interval), and consultation (SD) over 12 months were 60.9% (34.0), 16.0% (14.0–18.1), and 5.23 (3.21) times, respectively, in the GL-compliant cohort and 59.7% (35.8), 22.0% (18.6–25.5), and 4.76 (3.19) times, respectively, in the GL-noncompliant cohort. No significant differences were observed between the 2 cohorts. No clinically relevant factor associated with GL noncompliance was found.

Conclusions: Around 5% of patients were prescribed a fixed-combination eye drop as first-line therapy not in accordance with GLs. The similarity of adherence and persistence between the 2 cohorts indicates that first-line fixed-combination therapy could be considered for glaucoma treatment.

Recent advances in intraocular and novel drug delivery systems for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy

Introduction: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is associated with damage to the retinal blood vessels that lead eventually to vision loss. The existing treatments of DR are invasive, expensive, and cumbersome. To overcome challenges associated with existing therapies, various intraocular sustained release and novel drug delivery systems (NDDS) have been explored.Areas covered: The review discusses recently developed intraocular devices for sustained release of drugs as well as novel noninvasive drug delivery systems that have met a varying degree of success in local delivery of drugs to retinal circulation.Expert opinion: The intraocular devices have got very good success in providing sustained release of drugs in patients. The development of NDDS and their application through the ocular route has certainly provided an edge to treat DR over existing therapies such as anti-VEGF administration but their success rate is quite low. Moreover, most of them have proved to be effective only in animal models. In addition, the extent of targeting the drug to the retina still remains variable and unpredictable. The toxicity aspect of the NDDS has generally been neglected. In order to have successful commercialization of nanotechnology-based innovations well-designed clinical research studies need to be conducted to evaluate their clinical superiority over that of the existing formulations.

24-Month Phase I/II Clinical Trial of Bimatoprost Sustained-Release Implant (Bimatoprost SR) in Glaucoma Patients

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effects over 24 months of biodegradable bimatoprost sustained-release implant (Bimatoprost SR) administration versus topical bimatoprost 0.03% in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG).

Methods

This was a phase I/II, prospective, 24-month, dose-ranging, paired-eye controlled clinical trial. At baseline following washout, adult patients with OAG (N = 75) received Bimatoprost SR (6, 10, 15, or 20 µg) intracamerally in the study eye; the fellow eye received topical bimatoprost 0.03% once daily. Rescue topical IOP-lowering medication or single repeat administration with implant was permitted. The primary endpoint was IOP change from baseline. Safety measures included adverse events (AEs).

Results

At month 24, mean IOP reduction from baseline was 7.5, 7.3, 7.3, and 8.9 mmHg in eyes treated with Bimatoprost SR 6, 10, 15, and 20 µg, respectively, versus 8.2 mmHg in pooled fellow eyes; 68, 40, and 28% of pooled study eyes had not been rescued/retreated at months 6, 12, and 24, respectively. AEs in study eyes that occurred ≤ 2 days post-procedure typically were transient. After 2 days post-procedure, overall AE incidence was similar between study and fellow eyes, with some events typically associated with topical prostaglandin analogs having lower incidence in study eyes.

Conclusions

Bimatoprost SR showed favorable efficacy and safety profiles up to 24 months, with all evaluated dose strengths demonstrating overall IOP-reducing effects comparable to those of topical bimatoprost. Targeted and sustained delivery of bimatoprost resulted in protracted IOP lowering, suggesting that Bimatoprost SR may represent a transformational new approach to glaucoma therapy. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01157364

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s40265-019-01248-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.