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. 2017 Oct 18;10(10):1580-1585.
doi: 10.18240/ijo.2017.10.16. eCollection 2017.

Understanding practice patterns of glaucoma sub-specialists in India

Nikhil S Choudhari  1 , Vanita Pathak-Ray  1 , Sushmita Kaushik  2 , Prateep Vyas  3 , Ronnie George  4
Affiliations

Understanding practice patterns of glaucoma sub-specialists in India

Nikhil S Choudhari et al. Int J Ophthalmol. .

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.

Keywords: audience response system; glaucoma practice patterns; glaucoma specialists; glaucomatologist; survey.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. The subdivision of glaucoma specialists based on their years of experience in managing patients with glaucoma.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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