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. 2020 Feb 27;20(1):76.
doi: 10.1186/s12886-020-01347-7.

Paediatric glaucoma in Scotland

Daniel Beck  1 , Martin Galea  1   2 , Cheng Yi Loo  1 , Conrad Schmoll  1 , Frederick R Burgess  3   4 , Donald Montgomery  2 , Andrew J Tatham  1
Affiliations

Paediatric glaucoma in Scotland

Daniel Beck et al. BMC Ophthalmol. .

Abstract

Background: The primary aim was to estimate the incidence of primary and secondary childhood glaucoma in Scotland over a 2-year period. The secondary aim was to gauge the confidence and experience of ophthalmologists in Scotland in managing these patients.

Methods: A 7 question electronic survey was distributed to all consultant members of the Scottish Paediatric Club and Scottish Glaucoma Club. Respondents were asked to report the number of cases and types of childhood glaucoma they had managed in the last 2 years. Respondents were also asked about experience and confidence in a range of glaucoma procedures, number of patients requiring referral to specialist centres and interest in the development of a centre of excellence in Scotland.

Results: The survey returned a 56% response rate, reporting 85 new cases of paediatric glaucoma in Scotland over the preceding 2 years. 11 (12.9%) had primary glaucoma and 74 (87.1%) had secondary glaucoma. The most common subtype of secondary glaucoma was uveitic glaucoma (n = 29). None of the respondents declared confidence or experience in trabeculotomy or goniotomy procedures. Eleven children required referral to a specialist unit outside Scotland. 85.7% of respondents felt Scotland would benefit from a specialist unit for paediatric glaucoma.

Conclusions: This survey reflects an appetite for a specialist service for paediatric glaucoma in Scotland. However, further consideration is needed to determine if there is sufficient patient load to maintain such a service.

Keywords: Glaucoma surgery; Paediatric glaucoma; Paediatric ophthalmology; Scotland; Service planning.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Screenshot showing the electronic survey questions and possible responses sent to all participants
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Responses to the question; ‘Do you feel comfortable performing the following surgical procedures on children?’ out of 28 respondants
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The number of procedures performed on children in the last 2 years
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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