IOL Selection and Glaucoma

The effects of certain lenses on the disease and patients’ visual outcomes.

Luke Barnard, MD, and Christopher Teng, MD, MBA

Glaucoma Today

The Effect of Blue-Light Filtering Intraocular Lenses on the Development and Progression of Glaucoma Hecht I, Kanclerz P, Achiron A, Elbaz U, Tuuminen R1 Industry support: R.T., Advisory board and honoraria (Alcon, Allergan, Novartis) and clinical trial support (Bayer, Théa) ABSTRACT SUMMARY This retrospective cohort study assessed 11,208 patients’ (11,028 eyes) overall risk of developing glaucoma or requiring a glaucoma procedure after undergoing uneventful cataract surgery with the implantation of a blue light–filtering (BLF) or non-BLF IOL at a Finnish hospital between the years of 2007 and 2018. BLF IOLs (AcrySof model SN60WF, Alcon) were implanted in 5,188 eyes (47%), and non-BLF IOLs (Tecnis models ZA9003 and ZCB00, Johnson & Johnson Vision) were placed in 5,840 eyes (53%). STUDY IN BRIEF A large, retrospective cohort study evaluated patients’ glaucoma-free and glaucoma procedure–free survival rates after undergoing uneventful cataract surgery with the implantation of a blue light–filtering (BLF) or non-BLF IOL. Compared to patients who received a non-BLF lens, those who received a BLF IOL were 22% less likely to develop glaucoma and 38% less likely to require a glaucoma procedure. No significant differences were observed for any outcome, however, among patients who had preexisting glaucoma or were diagnosed with the disease within 12 months of cataract surgery. WHY IT MATTERS The study indicates that oxidative damage may play a role in the development of glaucoma. It also suggests that BLF IOLs may have a protective effect in patients who currently do not have glaucoma but are at increased risk of developing the disease. The main outcomes assessed were glaucoma-free survival and glaucoma procedure–free survival. Patients diagnosed with glaucoma before or within 12 months of cataract surgery were excluded from the primary outcome and analyzed separately for disease progression as a secondary outcome. Glaucoma-free survival rates demonstrated an advantage to the BLF IOL (P = .036).

In Consideration of House Calls and OD-to-OD Referrals

Eyetube

This month on The MOD Pod, Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, invites Damaris Raymondi, OD, FAAO, and Jason Besecker, OD, MS, to discuss their recent articles in Modern Optometry. Have a listen as Dr. Raymondi shares extra details about the patient experience that opened her eyes to the transformative effect that offering at-home visits can have on a patient's life. Dr. Besecker then explains why being receptive to OD-to-OD referrals enables clinicians to do what they do best—whether that be specialize in scleral lenses or dry eye or provide full scope care—while serving the best interests of their patients and establishing important relationships with colleagues in their communities. 

Technology in Collaborative Care: Friend or Foe?

Leveraging advances in optometry will help deliver more optimal, efficient patient care.

Selina R. McGee, OD, FAAO

Modern Optometry

Prior to 1900, human knowledge was said to double every century.1 After World War II, human knowledge doubled every 25 years.2 Today, it is estimated that human knowledge doubles every 12 hours.3 If you feel like you can’t keep up—that there just aren’t enough hours in the day—you’re not alone, you can’t. No one can. The way we practice, learn, educate, and adapt to change must continue to evolve. THE EVOLUTION OF EYE CARE The population of patients in need of our medical expertise in eye care is growing, both in the clinic as well as in the surgical suite. Optometry performs about 88 million comprehensive eye exams per year,4 and that number is projected to increase by about 13 million by 2025. More than 4 million cataract surgeries are performed in the United States each year. By 2030, the estimated number of cataract surgeries is expected to reach 6 million,5 almost doubling surgical demand and requiring increased efficiency. Add to this the fact that an increasing number of patients will need intravitreal injections due to age-related macular degeneration or diabetes. Glaucoma is also on the rise with an aging population. Optometry has an opportunity, not to mention an obligation, to practice to our fullest scope and absorb the increase in patient demand to give patients access to quality care in a more timely manner.