Transcript 9 Glucoma

Dr Mahmood Fauzi
ASSIST PROF OPHTHALMOLOGY
AL MAAREFA COLLEGE
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Define glaucoma
Estimate magnitude of visual morbidity from glaucoma
Explain aqueous humor dynamics in glaucoma
development
Outline features of open and close angle glaucoma
Contract case studies in open and close angle glaucoma
Review autonomic effects on the glaucomatous eye.
Treatment rationale
Reasoning through drug mechanism of action: decrease
aqueous production vs.. increase aqueous outflow
•Glaucoma is Optic neuropathy that is commonly
associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), but
the disease can occur in normal IOP
•Glaucomatous Optic neuropathy is the leading cause of
irreversible blindness in the world
• Major types are open angle and closed angle
• Differences among various types of glaucoma
complicate the nomenclature
• Our understanding and treatment of the disease is very
focused on IOP
From www.ahaf.org
Aqueous is produced by secretion and ultrafiltration
from the ciliary processes into the posterior
chamber.
 It then passes through the pupil into the anterior
chamber to leave the eye predominantly via the
trabecular meshwork, Schlemm’s canal and the
episcleral veins
(the conventional pathway).
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A small proportion of the aqueous (4%) drains
across the ciliary body into the supra-choroidal
space and into the venous circulation across
the sclera (uveoscleral pathway)
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The intraocular pressure level depends on the
balance between production and removal of
aqueous humour.
Presentation
Ocular
association
Angle
Course
Acquired
Primary
Open
Acute
Congenital
Secondary
Closed
Chronic
Complete history
 Complete
examination
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IOP
Gonioscopy
Optic disc
Visual Fields
Tonometers
Goldmann
Contact applanation
Air-puff
Non-contact indentation
Perkins
Schiotz
Portable contact applanationContact indentation
Pulsair 2000 (Keeler)
Portable non-contact applanation
Tono-Pen
portable contact applanation
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The normal pressure is 15.5 mmHg.
The limits are defined as 2 standard
deviations above and below the mean
(11–21 mmHg).
Date Author Title
14
Optic nerve signs of glaucoma progression
Increasing C:D ratio
 Development of disk pallor
 Disc hemorrhage (60% will show progression of VF damage)
 Vessel displacement
 Increased visibility of lamina cribosa
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Mechanical theory
 Compression of axons leads to axonal death
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Vascular theory
 Ischemia causes axonal necrosis
Direct damage due
to Pr.
Capillary
Occlusion
Interference to
Axoplasmic flow
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Axonal necrosis leading to cupping
Loss of supporting glial tissue
Normally leads to disc pallor
Histology of Normal and Glaucomatous Optic nerve
Types of physiological excavation
Small dimple central cup
Larger and deeper
punched-out central cup
Cup with sloping temporal
wall
Pallor and cupping
Pallor - maximal area of color contrast
Cupping - bending of small blood vessels crossing disc
Cupping and pallor
correspond
Cupping is greater than
pallor pallor
pallor
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Affects 1 in 200 subjects over the age of 40.
Affecting males and females equally.
There may be a family history.
The prevalence among blacks is 3 to 4 times
higher than whites.
Symptomless unless the patient becomes
aware of a severe visual deficit.
• Obstruction at the level of the
trabecular meshwork
• Progressive loss of visual field
over time from periphery to center
• Presence of hollowed out optic
disc (‘cupping’) due to retinal
ganglion cell death
• Open anterior chamber angle
• Majority of patients have IOP >
21 mmHg, asymptomatic
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Affects 1 in 1000 subjects over 40 years.
Females more commonly affected than males.
Strong family history.
Prevalence is more common among Asians
and Eskimos.
Patients are likely to be hyperopic.
In acute cases, patient may have sever pain,
photophobia, vision loss and nausea.
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examination visual acuity is reduced,
 Eye is red,
 Cornea is cloudy
 Pupil oval, fixed and dilated.
• Apposition of iris and
trabecular meshwork
• Parasympatholytics
(pupillary dilation) can
precipitate attack
• Increase risk with age,
increase in volume of lens
• Acute onset, patient
complains of nausea, headache
(rather than eye ache),
malaise, general distress
• Requires immediate
treatment
Open angle:
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Blood (hyphema), following
blunt trauma.
Inflammatory cells (uveitis).
Pigment from the iris.
Deposition of material
produced by the epithelium
of the lens, iris and ciliary
body in the trabecular
meshwork
(pseudoexfoliative
glaucoma).
Steroid-induced glaucoma.
Raised episcleral venous
pressure.
Closed angle:
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Abnormal iris blood vessels
may obstruct the angle and
cause the iris to adhere to
the peripheral cornea,
closing the angle (rubeosis
iridis).
A large choroidal melanoma
may push the iris forward.
A cataract may pushing the
iris forward
(phacomorphic).
Uveitis may cause the iris to
adhere to the trabecular
meshwork.
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Causes
◦ Diabetes
◦ CRVO
◦ Carotid vascular
disease
◦ CRAO
◦ Eales’ Disease
◦ Sickle cell anemia
◦ Coats disease
Signs & symptoms
Rubeosis iridis
Ectropion uveae
NV of angle
BOTTOM LINE: IOP from Aqueous Flow, 3 Sites
1. Obstructed Trabecular Mesh
Open Angle: Age-related, genetic
Closed Angle: Anatomic,
exacerbated by:
2. Pupillary Block
Dilation of pupil iris flattens,
 flow via pupil, iris forward
iris-cornea angle
3. Swelling of Ciliary Body
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Modified from: Wood et al. NEJM 339:1298 (1998)
SIDENOTE:
WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO DILATE MRS. P’s PUPILS
WITH PHENYLEPHRINE VS. AN ANTICHOLINERGIC?
REVIEW: Autonomic NS Effect on the Eye
RECEPTOR ACTIVATION WILL:
TO LOWER IOP, AIM FOR:
IRIS, Circular Fibers
mAchR : Constrict Pupil
 Activity
IRIS, Radial Fibers
1 R
 Activity
CILIARY MUSCLES
mAchR : Contract for Accomodation
2 R : Relax for Far Vision
: Dilate Pupil
 Activity
Activity
1.
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3.
Medical treatment.
Laser treatment.
Surgical treatment.
TREATMENT RATIONALE
LOWER IOP BY:
(1) Decreasing Production of Aqueous Humor
(2) Increasing Outflow of Aqueous Humor
Focus on Pharmacologic Rx: First-line
DRUGS THAT DECREASE AQUEOUS PRODUCTION
I.
Beta-Blockers [levobunolol, timolol, carteolol, betaxolol]
-Mechanism: Act on ciliary body to  production of aqueous humor
-Administration: Topical drops to avoid systemic effects
-Side Effects: Cardiovascular (bradycardia, asystole, syncope),
bronchoconstriction (avoid with 1-selective betaxolol), depression
II.
Alpha-2 Adrenergic Agonists [apraclonidine, brimonidine]
-Mechanism:  production of aqueous humor
-Administration: Topical drops
-Side Effects: Lethargy, fatigue, dry mouth [apraclonidine is a derivative of
clonidine (antihypertensive) which cannot cross BBB to cause systemic
hypotension]
III. Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors [acetazolamide, dorzolamide]
-Mechanism: Blocks CAII enzyme production of bicarbonate ions
(transported to posterior chamber, carrying osmotic water flow),
thus  production of aqueous humor
-Administration: Oral, topical
-Side Effects: malaise, kidney stones, possible (rare) aplastic anemia
DRUGS THAT INCREASE AQUEOUS OUTFLOW
I.
Nonspecific Adrenergic Agonists [epinephrine, dipivefrin]
-Mechanism:  uveoscleral outflow of aqueous humor
-Administration: Topical drops
-Side Effects: Can precipitate acute attack in patients with narrow iriscorneal angle, headaches, cardiovascular arrhythmia, tachycardia
II.
Parasympathomimetics [pilocarpine, carbachol, echothiophate]
-Mechanism:  contractile force of ciliary body muscle,  outflow via TM
-Administration: Topical drops or gel, (slow-release plastic insert)
-Side Effects: Headache, induced miopia. Few systemic SE for direct-acting
agonists vs. AchE inhibitors (diarrhea, cramps, prolonged paralysis in
setting of succinylcholine). Why isn’t Ach used?
III. Prostaglandins [latanoprost]
-Mechanism: May  uveoscleral outflow by relaxing ciliary body muscle
-Administration: Topical drops
-Side Effects: Iris color change
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Drainage surgery (trabeculectomy) relies on
the creation of a fistula between the anterior
chamber and the subconjunctival space.
The operation is usually effective in
substantially reducing intraocular pressure.
It is performed increasingly early in the
treatment of glaucoma.
Rx GLAUCOMA: ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
1. No single medication can be used in all patients
2. Compliance
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Critical: Rx often requires several agents,
multiple times a day, everyday
Role of slow-release drug delivery devices (Langer)
3. Non-pharmacologic ways to lower IOP:
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Laser (argon laser trabeculoplasty)
-  aqueous outflow, loses effectiveness over time
Surgical (trabeculectomy)
- Creates alternative path for aqueous outflow
- Only definitive therapy for closed angle
4. Effectiveness of Rx measured by ability to lower IOP, but
other factors may be (more) important:
- Neuroprotection/increased blood flow to optic nerve
GLAUCOMA: Key Points
• Glaucoma: -Visual loss from optic neuropathy
-Open angle chronic, Closed angle acute
-Final common pathway:  IOP (usually)
• Drug Rx:
-All directed towardsIOP either via:
-  aqueous production: Beta blockers
Alpha-2 agonists
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
-  aqueous outflow: (Adrenergic agonists, nonspecific)
Parasympathomimetics
Prostaglandins
• Treatment slows progression
• Understanding ANS effect on the eye is critical for reasoning through
drug mechanisms of action
• Understanding ANS effect on the whole body is critical for predicting and
avoiding dangerous side effects
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http://www.webmd.com/eyehealth/glaucoma-eyes
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/glaucoma/p
ages/introduction.aspx
http://www.aoa.org/patients-andpublic/eye-and-vision-problems/glossaryof-eye-and-visionconditions/glaucoma?sso=y
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Glaucoma quiz
http://www.myeyes.com/glaucoma/glaucoma
-quiz.shtml