Nikhil S Choudhari1, Vanita Pathak-Ray1, Sushmita Kaushik2, Prateep Vyas3, Ronnie George4. 1. V S T Glaucoma Centre, Dr. Kallam Anji Reddy Campus, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad 500034, India. 2. Advanced Eye Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Glaucoma Society of India, India. 3. Centre for Sight, Glaucoma Society of India, Indore 452010, India. 4. Department of Glaucoma, Medical Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai 600006, India.
Abstract
AIM: To obtain information on the prevailing practice patterns of glaucoma specialists in India. METHODS: Glaucoma specialists attending the Annual Conference of the Glaucoma Society of India (GSI) were surveyed. This survey, conducted in 2013, was based on an interactive audience response system. RESULTS: The information was obtained from 146 glaucoma specialists. Approximately half (n=83; 57%) had ≥10y of experience in managing glaucoma and were in institutional practice (n=74, 51%). Goldmann applanation tonometry was preferred by 103 (72%) specialists whilst n=25 (17.4%) used non-contact tonometer. Indentation gonioscopy was favoured by two-thirds (n=90, 66%) whereas stereoscopic optic disc examination and visual fields using Humphrey perimeter was performed by a majority of the specialists surveyed (n=115, 86% and n=114; 83% respectively). Nearly three quarter specialists (n=96; 72%) preferred optical coherence tomography for imaging. The primary choice for treatment of angle closure disease and primary open angle glaucoma was laser (iridotomy, n=117; 93%) and medical management (prostaglandin analogue, n=104; 78%), respectively. Approximately only a third of the specialists surveyed (n=37; 28%) were performing both trabeculectomy and implantation of a glaucoma drainage device and about half (n=64; 47%) were not operating on congenital glaucoma at all. CONCLUSION: This survey has found conformance with preferred practice patterns in several areas of diagnosis and management of glaucoma, but there was diversity in a few areas. The information is a significant step towards improvement of glaucoma care in India, including planning for future strategies.
AIM: To obtain information on the prevailing practice patterns of glaucoma specialists in India. METHODS:Glaucoma specialists attending the Annual Conference of the Glaucoma Society of India (GSI) were surveyed. This survey, conducted in 2013, was based on an interactive audience response system. RESULTS: The information was obtained from 146 glaucoma specialists. Approximately half (n=83; 57%) had ≥10y of experience in managing glaucoma and were in institutional practice (n=74, 51%). Goldmann applanation tonometry was preferred by 103 (72%) specialists whilst n=25 (17.4%) used non-contact tonometer. Indentation gonioscopy was favoured by two-thirds (n=90, 66%) whereas stereoscopic optic disc examination and visual fields using Humphrey perimeter was performed by a majority of the specialists surveyed (n=115, 86% and n=114; 83% respectively). Nearly three quarter specialists (n=96; 72%) preferred optical coherence tomography for imaging. The primary choice for treatment of angle closure disease and primary open angle glaucoma was laser (iridotomy, n=117; 93%) and medical management (prostaglandin analogue, n=104; 78%), respectively. Approximately only a third of the specialists surveyed (n=37; 28%) were performing both trabeculectomy and implantation of a glaucoma drainage device and about half (n=64; 47%) were not operating on congenital glaucoma at all. CONCLUSION: This survey has found conformance with preferred practice patterns in several areas of diagnosis and management of glaucoma, but there was diversity in a few areas. The information is a significant step towards improvement of glaucoma care in India, including planning for future strategies.
Authors: Brent J Gaskin; Stuart C Carroll; Greg Gamble; Ivan Goldberg; Helen V Danesh-Meyer Journal: Clin Exp Ophthalmol Date: 2006-04 Impact factor: 4.207