S Hatt1, R Wormald, J Burr. 1. London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, International Centre for Eye Health, Keppel Street, London, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Open angle glaucoma (OAG) is a primary, progressive optic neuropathy; the onset is without symptoms and progression occurs silently until the advanced stages of the disease, when it affects central vision. The blindness caused by OAG is irreversible. It has often been assumed to be a condition that fulfils the criteria for population screening, although this has not been supported by other in-depth non-systematic reviews. The focus of this review was to examine the evidence for the effectiveness of screening for OAG. OBJECTIVES: To determine the impact of screening for OAG compared with opportunistic case findings or current referral practices on the prevalence of and the degree of optic nerve damage due to OAG in screened and unscreened populations. SEARCH STRATEGY: We included any randomised controlled trial (RCT) evaluating population-based screening programmes for OAG with a minimum one year follow up. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) on The Cochrane Library (which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Trials Register) (Issue 1, 2006), MEDLINE (1950 to February 2006) and EMBASE (1988 to February 2006). We also searched the National Research Register (Issue 1, 2006) and Zetoc for grey literature (29 June 2006). There were no language or date restrictions in the electronic searches. SELECTION CRITERIA: We planned to include RCTs, including cluster RCTs. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed the study abstracts identified by the electronic searches. We did not find any trials that met the inclusion criteria. MAIN RESULTS: As no trials were identified, no formal analysis was performed. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of current evidence, population-based screening for chronic OAG cannot be recommended, although much can be done to improve awareness and encourage at risk individuals to seek testing. In wealthy countries with equitable access to high quality eye care and health education, blindness from chronic OAG should become increasingly rare; much greater challenges face poor and emerging economies and countries where there are substantial health and wealth inequalities. Effectiveness of screening for OAG can be established only by high quality RCTs.
BACKGROUND:Open angle glaucoma (OAG) is a primary, progressive optic neuropathy; the onset is without symptoms and progression occurs silently until the advanced stages of the disease, when it affects central vision. The blindness caused by OAG is irreversible. It has often been assumed to be a condition that fulfils the criteria for population screening, although this has not been supported by other in-depth non-systematic reviews. The focus of this review was to examine the evidence for the effectiveness of screening for OAG. OBJECTIVES: To determine the impact of screening for OAG compared with opportunistic case findings or current referral practices on the prevalence of and the degree of optic nerve damage due to OAG in screened and unscreened populations. SEARCH STRATEGY: We included any randomised controlled trial (RCT) evaluating population-based screening programmes for OAG with a minimum one year follow up. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) on The Cochrane Library (which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Trials Register) (Issue 1, 2006), MEDLINE (1950 to February 2006) and EMBASE (1988 to February 2006). We also searched the National Research Register (Issue 1, 2006) and Zetoc for grey literature (29 June 2006). There were no language or date restrictions in the electronic searches. SELECTION CRITERIA: We planned to include RCTs, including cluster RCTs. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed the study abstracts identified by the electronic searches. We did not find any trials that met the inclusion criteria. MAIN RESULTS: As no trials were identified, no formal analysis was performed. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of current evidence, population-based screening for chronic OAG cannot be recommended, although much can be done to improve awareness and encourage at risk individuals to seek testing. In wealthy countries with equitable access to high quality eye care and health education, blindness from chronic OAG should become increasingly rare; much greater challenges face poor and emerging economies and countries where there are substantial health and wealth inequalities. Effectiveness of screening for OAG can be established only by high quality RCTs.
Authors: Martina Albrecht; Florian Isenbeck; Jüürgen Kasper; Ingrid Mühlhauser; Anke Steckelberg Journal: Dtsch Arztebl Int Date: 2016-06-06 Impact factor: 5.594
Authors: Jennifer M Burr; Marion K Campbell; Susan E Campbell; Jillian J Francis; Alexandra Greene; Rodolfo Hernández; Debra Hopkins; Sharon K McCann; Luke D Vale Journal: BMC Med Res Methodol Date: 2011-04-21 Impact factor: 4.615
Authors: Sera-Melisa Thomas; Maya M Jeyaraman; Maya Jeyaraman; William G Hodge; Cindy Hutnik; John Costella; Monali S Malvankar-Mehta Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-12-05 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Susan E Campbell; Augusto Azuara-Blanco; Marion K Campbell; Jillian J Francis; Alexandra C Greene; Craig R Ramsay; Jennifer M Burr Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2012-12-05 Impact factor: 2.655
Authors: Jennifer Burr; Rodolfo Hernández; Craig Ramsay; Maria Prior; Susan Campbell; Augusto Azuara-Blanco; Marion Campbell; Jill Francis; Luke Vale Journal: J Health Serv Res Policy Date: 2013-10-02