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EGS to publish updated guidelines
for diagnosis and management of glaucoma
Ana Hidalgo-Simón MD, PhD
in London
THE European Glaucoma Society (EGS) is set to publish an updated
version of its evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and management
of glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
The guidelines aim to support the general ophthalmologist in the
decision making process for managing patients affected by or suspected
of having glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
Since 1998, over 26,000 copies of the previous set of guidelines
have been distributed worldwide in nine different languages. Following
the enormously successful earlier edition, the EGS has decided to
update its ‘Terminology and Guidelines for Glaucoma’
to incorporate the considerable advances in the field since the
original version was released.
“The body of evidence on which the guidelines are based has
grown considerably since we published the previous guidelines. On
one hand, several randomised clinical trials addressing glaucoma
management issues have been published and, on the other, new pharmacological
agents, lasers and surgical techniques are now available,”
said EGS secretary Clive Migdal MD, FRCS, FRCOphth.
Particular attention is given in the new version to the results
of clinical trials like ‘The Collaborative Normal Tension
Glaucoma Study’ (CNTGS), ‘The Advanced Glaucoma Intervention
Study’ (AGIS), ‘The Collaborative Initial Glaucoma Treatment
Study’ (CITGS), ‘The Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study’
(OHTS) and ’The Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial’ (EMGT).
As was the case with the previous guidelines, the first part consists
of flow charts, patient examination, terminology and classifications.
The second part is a reference section, which tabulates available
medical therapy, laser and surgical techniques, based on reviews
of published evidence-based research. The guidelines have universal
application, without specific country-based restrictions.
“We have a greater diversity of management styles in Europe
than in the US. We are hoping that these guidelines will provide
a guide for unification, especially regarding differences in practice
between Western and Eastern Europe,” Dr Migdal said.
After extensive consultation, the final edits are currently taking
place. The new guidelines will be released in May 2003. They can
be obtained free of charge by applying to any one of the sponsors
providing grants for their publication — Alcon, Allergan,
Novartis, MSD and Pharmacia.
“We are excited about all the recent developments in glaucoma
therapy and are looking forward to the improvements in management
and results that they will bring to glaucoma patients,” Dr
Migdal said.
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