Ocular Surface Disease in Glaucoma Patients VERSION 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
CORRELATION BETWEEN SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF OCULAR SURFACE DISEASE IN TOPICALLY TREATED GLAUCOMA PATIENTS\n
IRAS ID
212924
Contact name
Rupert R A BOURNE
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Hinchingbrooke Hospital NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 0 days
Research summary
Surface problems of the eyes are very common among patients with glaucoma, the majority of whom are treated with eyedrop medications that lower the pressure in the eye. These eyedrops medications may exacerbate these surface problems. Ocular Surface Disease (OSD) such as dry eyes may therefore may affect the patient’s willingness to take or continue with their eyedrops which can lead to loss of control of the glaucoma and ensuing vision impairment. In this study, we plan to recruit glaucoma patients treated with drops from our glaucoma clinics, and using their responses to a validated questionnaire (Ocular Surface Disease Index Questionnaire- OSDIQ), divide them into two groups- symptomatic and non-symptomatic patients. The patients will then be examined for ocular signs of ocular surface disease in an extended version of their regular glaucoma clinic appointment. Analysis of the results of the study will involve investigating how these clinical signs of disease relate to symptoms reported by patients. Identification of these clinical ‘markers’ that associate with symptoms will assist clinicians in predicting which patient are likely to remain compliant with drops, and which may be more suitable for other treatments that do not involve topical application of eyedrop medications, such as laser or surgery. Additionally, we plan to compare these two groups in their response to environmental conditions such as low humidity by using a climate chamber. We hypothesize that dry conditions may have a more deleterious effect on the ocular surface than in symptomatic patients and if this is the case, we can recommend more targeted treatment of OSD in these patients. \n
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/SW/0334
Date of REC Opinion
22 Dec 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion