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Background/aims: Socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with late disease presentation and poorer outcomes. We evaluate the effect of SES on treatment outcomes and report the correlation between SES and baseline characteristics of participants in the Treatment of Advanced Glaucoma Study., Methods: Pragmatic multicentre randomised controlled trial. Four hundred and fifty-three patients presenting with advanced open-angle glaucoma in at least one eye (Hodapp-Parrish-Anderson classification). Participants were randomised to either glaucoma drops (medical arm) or trabeculectomy (surgery arm). Clinical characteristics, Quality of life measurement (QoL) and SES defined by the Index of Multiple Deprivation are reported. Subgroup analysis explored treatment effect modifications of SES at 24 months. Correlation between SES and baseline characteristics was tested with the χ 2 test of association for dichotomous variables and pairwise Pearson's correlation for continuous variables., Results: The mean visual field mean deviation was -17.2 (6.7)dB for the most deprived quintile of participants and -13.0 (5.5) for the least deprived quintile in the index eye. At diagnosis, there was a strong correlation between SES and ethnicity, age, extent of visual field loss and number of visits to opticians prior to diagnosis. At 24 months, there was no evidence that the treatment effect was moderated by SES., Conclusions: In patients presenting with advanced glaucoma. SES at baseline is correlated with poorer visual function, poorer Visual Function Questionnaire-25 QoL, ethnicity, age and number visits to an optician in the years preceding diagnosis. SES at baseline does not have an effect of the success of treatment at 24 months., Trial Registration Number: ISRCTN56878850., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background/aims: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the PreserFlo MicroShunt glaucoma device in a multicentre cohort study., Methods: All consecutive patients who received the microshunt with mitomycin-C (MMC) 0.4 mg/mL from May 2019 to September 2020 in three UK tertiary centres. Primary outcome at 1 year was a complete success, with failure defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) >21 mmHg or <20% reduction, IOP≤5 mmHg with any decreased vision on two consecutive visits, reoperation or loss of light perception vision. Secondary outcomes were IOP, best-corrected visual acuity, medications, complications, interventions and reoperations. We also performed subgroup analyses for severe glaucoma and assessed risk factors for failure., Results: 104 eyes had 1-year follow-up. Complete and qualified success at 1 year were achieved in 51.9% (N=54) and 16.4% (N=17), respectively, and failure occurred in 31.7% (N=33). There was a significant reduction in IOP (mmHg) from preoperatively (23.4±0.8, N=104) to 12 months (14.7±0.6, N=104) (p<0.0001). Antiglaucoma medications also decreased from preoperatively (3.4±0.1, N=104) to 12 months (0.7±0.1, N=104) (p<0.0001). Multivariate analyses showed an association between higher mean deviation and failure (HR 1.055, 95% CI 1.0075 to 1.11, p=0.0227). Complications were hypotony (19.2%; N=20), choroidal detachments (10.6%; N=11), hyphaema (5.8%; N=6) and bleb leak (5.8%; N=6). Needling and 5-fluorouracil injections were performed in 12.5% (N=13) and 33.7% (N=35), respectively, and 11.5% (N=12) required revision surgery., Conclusion: The PreserFlo MicroShunt with MMC 0.4 mg/mL showed an overall success rate of 68.3% at 1 year, and led to significant IOP and medication reduction with a low rate of adverse effects., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)

Aims: To recommend a list of complications of glaucoma surgery to be used in future glaucoma surgery research and reporting by exploring the spectrum of complications' names, the variety of definitions and time frames used for reporting them in glaucoma surgical trials., Methods: Complications' names, definitions and time frames identified from a previously conducted systematic review of glaucoma surgery trials (registration number: CRD42019121226) were reviewed. Only postoperative complications were considered. Surgical techniques described in the papers from the previous systematic review were retrieved and grouped according their mechanism of action.Reviewers independently recommended each complication's inclusion or exclusion in a list to be proposed as a potential standard for reporting in glaucoma interventions. A literature-based definition of a 'surgical complication' was used to inform these decisions. Recorded complication's details were used to inform the development of clinically relevant definitions, a consensus-driven exercise between reviewers resolved disagreements., Results: We identified 48/111 (43.2%) of the reported complications as suitable for inclusion, of which 17 were merged into other included complications having a broader meaning making up a final table of 32 postoperative complications. For 25 of them, the authors kept 'names' that were previously used in the systematic review, but provided a definition that was not mentioned in these papers. Five included complications were given both 'names' and definitions not previously mentioned. The authors maintained the name and definition for one complication. There were 16 complications that were in common to all the procedures retrieved from the previous review., Conclusions: We propose a table of revised names and comprehensive definitions of postoperative complications, to simplify the process of reporting complications after glaucoma surgery and to improve consistency among surgical trials., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate type-specific concurrent anogenital human papillomavirus (HPV) detection and examine associations with concurrent detection., Methods: Data from a Dutch repeated cross-sectional study among young sexual health clinic visitors (Papillomavirus Surveillance among STI clinic Youngsters in the Netherlands) between 2009 and 2019 were used. Cohen's kappa was used to assess the degree of type-specific concordance of HPV detection between anal and genital sites for 25 HPV genotypes for women and men who have sex with men (MSM) separately. Associations with type-specific concurrent HPV were identified. Receptive anal intercourse (RAI) was forced into the model to investigate its influence., Results: Among women (n=1492), type-specific concurrent anogenital detection was common; kappa was above 0.4 for 20 genotypes. Among MSM (n=614), kappa was <0.4 for all genotypes. The only significant association with type-specific concurrent anogenital detection among women was genital chlamydia (adjusted OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.2). RAI was not associated., Conclusions: Type-specific concurrent anogenital HPV detection was common among young women, and uncommon among MSM. For women, concurrent HPV detection was associated with genital chlamydia. Our results are suggestive of autoinoculation of HPV among women., Competing Interests: Competing interests: All authors reported to have no conflicts of interest. All authors have submitted the ICMJE form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the context of the manuscript have been disclosed., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: The most important outcome for patients undergoing trabeculectomy is to maintain the quality of life in their remaining years. This study quantifies end of life vision in terms of visual acuity (VA) and visual field status., Methods: A prospective service evaluation of patients undergoing trabeculectomy (from 2000 to 2012) who died prior to the study evaluation point (November 2018). Demographic data including socioeconomic status were collected and change in clinical measurement for the cohort between time of surgery and death was measured., Results: 160 of 659 patients had died (24.3%), 4 were excluded due to insufficient data, leaving 156 patients (196 eyes) for evaluation. Male-to-female ratio was 3:2, 86% of patients were Caucasian. Mean age at surgery on first eye was 76.5 years (SD 9.0). Life expectancy post-trabeculectomy was 7.5 years (0.1-17.2). Mean change in VA was logarithm of the mean angle of resolution (LogMAR) 0.32 (SD 0.59) and visual field mean deviation progressed at a median of -0.44 dB/year (from -5.98 to 3.9) for eyes with at least a year of follow-up. Severe vision loss (loss of ≥10 letters on LogMAR) occurred in 78 eyes (40%) of which 18 (9%) were due to glaucoma, 69 patients (44%) required glaucoma drops at end of life., Conclusion: Trabeculectomy is successful in slowing or preventing further glaucoma progression and thus maintaining visual function in the majority of eyes for the remainder of life. For those with severe vision loss at the end of life, only one in four was due to further progression of their glaucoma., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Introduction: Glaucoma is a lifelong condition often requiring surgical intervention. To allow us to inform patients' expectations of surgery effectively, it is important to understand patients' preferences and concerns regarding outcomes from glaucoma treatments including surgery., Aims: To explore what clinical and social outcomes of glaucoma surgery are important to patients., Methods: Forty-five glaucoma patients undergoing medical glaucoma treatments or surgery were recruited for focus group interviews to determine their opinions regarding the outcomes of glaucoma treatments. Thematic analysis was performed with NVivo software., Results: Themes identified were understanding glaucoma, understanding surgery treatments and understanding treatment outcomes. The most important outcomes of the glaucoma surgery reported by the patients were social factors. Patients felt that being able to maintain their driving licence is a strong indicator of successful glaucoma treatment/surgery. Other important outcomes were independent living, ability to care for their family and having a good-quality social life. When considering novel surgical treatments, most patients felt that certainty of successful outcome and proven longevity of the effect are the primary motivators for choosing these treatments., Conclusions: Patients understood that clinical measures were surrogates for maintaining visual function, but ability to maintain independent living was the most important outcome from their treatment. For newer treatments patients wished to know more about long-term outcomes when considering this option., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Presentation with advanced glaucoma is the major risk factor for lifetime blindness. Effective intervention at diagnosis is expected to minimise risk of further visual loss in this group of patients., Aim: To compare clinical and cost-effectiveness of primary medical management compared with primary surgery for people presenting with advanced open-angle glaucoma (OAG)., Methods: Design : A prospective, pragmatic multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT)., Setting: Twenty-seven UK hospital eye services., Participants: Four hundred and forty patients presenting with advanced OAG, according to the Hodapp-Parish-Anderson classification of visual field loss., Intervention: Participants will be randomised to medical treatment or augmented trabeculectomy (1:1 allocation minimised by centre and presence of advanced disease in both eyes)., Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome is vision-related quality of life measured by the National Eye Institute-Visual Function Questionnaire-25 at 24 months. Secondary outcomes include generic EQ-5D-5L, Health Utility Index-3 and glaucoma-related health status (Glaucoma Utility Index), patient experience, visual field measured by mean deviation value, logarithm of the mean angle of resolution visual acuity, intraocular pressure, adverse events, standards for driving and eligibility for blind certification. Incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) based on EQ-5D-5L and glaucoma profile instrument will be estimated., Results: The study will report the comparative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of medical treatment against augmented trabeculectomy in patients presenting with advanced glaucoma in terms of patient-reported health and visual function, clinical outcomes and incremental cost per QALY at 2 years., Conclusions: Treatment of Advanced Glaucoma Study will be the first RCT reporting outcomes from the perspective of those with advanced glaucoma., Trial Registration Number: ISRCTN56878850, Pre-results., Competing Interests: Competing interests: TAGS is funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) programme (project number 12/35/38). JMB, GM, AM and JMS report grants from NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme during the conduct of the study. LV reports grants from NIHR HTA Programme during the conduct of the study; and membership of the NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme and a director of the NIHR Research Design Service. JN reports grants from NIHR HTA during the conduct of the study; personal fees from NIHR Editors Board, other from NIHR HTA General Board, outside the submitted work., (© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)

Aim: To assess medium-term to long-term outcomes of a cohort of repeat trabeculectomy augmented with mitomycin C (MMC)., Methods: A prospective evaluation of consecutive separate site repeat MMC-augmented trabeculectomies undertaken at a single institution between October 2000 and December 2012. Information regarding visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP), visual field progression, postoperative interventions, surgery complications and success of surgery are presented.Complete and qualified (ie, with or without glaucoma medication) success rates were presented on the basis of three levels of IOP control: ≤21, ≤17 and ≤14 mm Hg without hypotony or reoperation., Results: Fifty-six eyes of 56 patients were evaluated. Thirty-seven per cent of the cohort had a previously augmented trabeculectomy. Mean follow-up was 6.3±3.4 years. At 60-month follow-up, 56.1% of patients achieved complete success and 75.6% achieved qualified success at the ≤21 mm Hg target. Complete and qualified success rates were 53.7% and 73.2%, respectively at the ≤17 mm Hg target and 51.2% and 61.0%, respectively at the ≤14 mm Hg target. Mean preoperative IOP was 29.1±6.0 mm Hg. At the 60-month follow-up visit the mean IOP was 12.6±4.7 mm Hg. Requirement for topical medications dropped from a mean of 2.9 to 0.5 per patient. No medications were required in 68.3%., Conclusions: Safe repeat trabeculectomy technique with antimetabolite titrated against the individual patients risk profile can result in improved results in the medium-term to long-term., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.)

Aims: To independently evaluate and compare the performance of the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study-European Glaucoma Prevention Study (OHTS-EGPS) prediction equation for estimating the 5-year risk of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) in four cohorts of adults with ocular hypertension., Methods: Data from two randomised controlled trials and two observational studies were analysed individually to assess transferability of the prediction equation between different geographical locations and settings. To make best use of the data and to avoid bias, missing predictor values were imputed using multivariate imputation by chained equations. Using the OHTS-EGPS risk prediction equation, predicted risk was calculated for each patient in each cohort. We used the c-index, calibration plot and calibration slope to evaluate predictive ability of the equation., Results: Analyses were based on 393, 298, 188 and 159 patients for the Rotterdam, Moorfields, Dunfermline, and Nottingham cohorts, respectively. The discriminative ability was good, with c-indices between 0.69 and 0.83. In calibration analyses, the risk of OAG was generally overestimated, although for the Rotterdam cohort the calibration slope was close to 1 (1.09, 95% CI 0.72 to 1.46), the ideal value when there is perfect agreement between predicted and observed risks., Conclusions: The OHTS-EGPS risk prediction equation has predictive utility, but further validation in a population-based setting is needed.

Aims: To determine short-term repeatability of the effect of intraocular pressure (IOP) reducing medication and the number of repeated measurements necessary to estimate therapeutic effect with a given degree of precision., Methods: IOP was measured at 8:00, 11:00 and 16:00 h at each of three weekly visits in untreated patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. After starting travaprost (0.004%) to both eyes, the measurements were repeated for a further three weekly visits. Repeatability of the change in IOP 1, 2 and 3 weeks after starting treatment was reported as the coefficient of repeatability (CR) and coefficient of variability (CV)., Results: Mean reduction in IOP was 7.5 mm Hg (29.9%). CR and CV between visits were 7.8 mm Hg and 37.2%, respectively. Repeated estimates of the effectiveness of treatment in the same subject at the same time of day would, therefore, be expected to lie within a range of 7.8 mm Hg and within ±73.2% of the mean effect with 95% confidence. A reduction in IOP less than 7.8 mm Hg over a single pair of measurements would be indistinguishable from measurement error. Precision improves from ±73.2% for a single pair of readings to ±25.9% for eight pairs., Conclusions: Day-to-day repeatability in the estimation of medication effectiveness is poor even for time-of-day standardised measurements and the number of IOP measurements required to achieve precision adequate for use in clinical practice is large.

Aims: To investigate the day-to-day repeatability of intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements., Methods: A prospective cohort study of untreated patients presenting with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension presenting with IOP>21 mm Hg. IOP was measured by masked Goldmann tonometry at 08:00, 11:00 and 16:00 at each of the three weekly visits. After starting travaprost (0.004%) to both eyes, the measurements were repeated for a further three weekly visits. Day-to-day repeatability was estimated before and after commencing medication and reported as the coefficient of repeatability and coefficient of variability., Results: At the 8:00 time point, mean IOPs were 26.1 and 17.9 mm Hg in the eye with higher pressure before and after starting treatment, respectively. Coefficient of repeatability and coefficient of variability were 6.8 mm Hg and 10.0%, respectively, before treatment, and 4.6 mm Hg and 10.5% on treatment. Therefore, before treatment and after starting medication the IOP lay within a range of ±20% of the mean IOP with 95% confidence., Conclusions: The non-therapeutic variability from day to day significantly undermines the precision of IOP estimation and of the estimation of medication effectiveness even when the time of day is standardised in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma/ocular hypertension.

The management of patients presenting with advanced glaucoma presents a challenge to glaucoma clinicians. Presentation with advanced visual field loss is an important risk factor for progression to blindness in the affected eye(s) during the patients' lifetime. Maximising intraocular pressure (IOP) control in such situations is likely to minimise the risk of further visual field deterioration thus either preventing or slowing progression to blindness. Currently most patients presenting with advanced disease in the UK are managed on an escalating regime of medical treatment. Should this fail glaucoma surgery is usually employed to further lower IOP. Although glaucoma surgery is generally a safe and successful intervention it carries a small risk of severe visual loss and is considered by many clinicians as an intervention only to be used following failure of medical treatment. Recently however the National Institute for Clinical Excellence has suggested in its clinical guidelines for management of ocular hypertension and glaucoma that primary surgery should be offered to patients presenting with advanced glaucomatous visual field loss. This is contrary to the practice of most UK ophthalmologists. In this review the current available evidence underlying the management of presentation with advanced disease is examined.

Background/aims: To determine the medium-term intraocular pressure (IOP) control and visual outcomes for patients with advanced glaucoma undergoing trabeculectomy with mitomycin C., Methods: All patients with advanced glaucoma (MD -20 dB or above) undergoing trabeculectomy with mitomycin C between 2000 and 2008 under the care of a single glaucoma surgeon were included. IOP, visual acuity and visual field outcomes were assessed from data prospectively collected into a surgical outcome database., Results: 103 patients were eligible for inclusion. The post-trabeculectomy group mean IOP varied between 11.3 and 13.3 mm Hg between 1 and 7 years. At year 5, 85.2% had an IOP of <16 mm Hg, and 96.3% had an IOP of < 21 mm Hg. The number completing a reliable visual-field exam decreased significantly year on year, but the change in mean MD for the group as a whole and for individual patients remained stable. 28 patients experienced a significant reduction in acuity defined as two or more lines of Snellen, although this was not due to glaucoma surgery in the majority. The only preoperative determinant for a significant reduction in VA was the preoperative MD (-27.00 dB (n=21) compared with -24.79 dB (n=63; p=0.029))., Conclusion: Trabeculectomy is a successsful method of controlling IOP in the short to medium term in patients with advanced glaucoma.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of diode laser cyclophotocoagulation for glaucoma on central visual function in patients with good visual acuity (VA)., Patients and Methods: Patients with preoperative VA 20/60 or better who had undergone cyclodiode treatment according to a standard protocol were evaluated retrospectively. The primary outcome variable was a recorded loss of two or more Snellen lines of best corrected VA during follow-up. Successful intraocular pressure (IOP) control was defined as being between 6 and 21 mmHg inclusive without oral acetazolamide or other glaucoma surgery., Results: 49 eyes of 43 patients with a median pretreatment acuity of 20/30 were included (range 20/16-20/60). After a mean duration of follow-up of 5.0 years, median VA was 20/60 with a line loss of two or more recorded in 15 eyes (30.6%) (mean survival time 7.7 years). 67.3% (33/49) retained VA 20/60 or better, but VA deteriorated by one Snellen line or more in 31 (63.2%), and in 16.3% (8/49), final VA was <20/200. In cases experiencing a two-line loss in acuity, the main causes were glaucoma progression (nine cases) and macula oedema (four cases). Visual loss was unrelated to total treatment dose (mean 99.7 J), initial acuity or initial IOP level. IOP was controlled at final follow-up in 39/49 (79.6%) with no cases of hypotony., Conclusions: Most of these eyes with difficult to manage glaucoma retained their good VA over long-term follow-up after undergoing diode laser cyclophotocoagulation. The proportion losing two Snellen lines is in line with that reported after trabeculectomy or tube surgery. These results suggest a possible role for the use of transscleral cyclodiode in selected eyes with significant visual potential. Further controlled prospective studies are required to better define this role.

Aims: To determine the value of daytime and 24-h phasing in patients treated for progressive glaucoma despite apparently adequate intraocular pressure (IOP) control., Methods: A retrospective analysis of a cohort of patients that had undergone either daytime phasing (08:00-18:00) or 24-h phasing was conducted. IOP measurements were compared between those taken in clinic, daytime phasing and 24-h phasing. The frequency with which phasing results changed clinical management was also compared between daytime and 24-h phasing., Results: 76 patients fulfilling the study criteria were identified. Clinic and daytime phasing IOP were known for all 76 patients, nighttime IOP measurements were known for 41. There was no significant difference between mean IOP values measured in clinic and daytime phasing (p=0.062) or between clinic values and nighttime phasing (p=0.65). The mean daytime phasing IOP was significantly higher than the mean nighttime phasing IOP (p=0.038) (analysis of variance (ANOVA) for three groups, p=0.058). There was no significant difference between the mean peak IOP in clinic or daytime phasing (p=0.13) or between clinic and nighttime phasing (p=0.44). The mean daytime phasing IOP peak was significantly higher than the mean nighttime phasing IOP peak (p=0.015) (ANOVA for three groups, p=0.074). There was no significant difference in the frequency of a change in management that occurred as a result of phasing between the daytime and 24-h groups (p=0.65)., Conclusions: 24-H phasing offers little advantage over daytime phasing in the identification of IOP fluctuations or peaks in patients progressing despite acceptable clinic IOP readings. Daytime phasing is likely to be more cost-effective than 24-h phasing.

Aims: To determine patients' preferences for provision of glaucoma follow-up services examining preferences for location, access and personnel for delivery of this care., Methods: 100 patient patients attending the glaucoma outpatient clinic for follow-up review underwent an interview-based assessment during which they completed the visual function questionnaire 25 and ranking of scenario options for provision of follow-up care for their glaucoma. Percentage preferences for aspects of care offered in the conjoint analysis scenario packages and generation of utility values for each of the factor levels included in the scenario design were calculated., Results: Travel time and training of health professional were the most important factors for patients (accounting for over 60%) of their preference. Utility scores were generated for each factor, with shorter travel time and examination by a doctor being the most important features to the patients. Patients who lived furthest from the hospital and had severe visual disability considered the number of visits to complete an episode to be an important feature., Conclusion: Patients ideally would like to travel a short distance and be seen by a doctor when being followed up for their glaucoma.

Aim: To quantify the type and frequency of postoperative bleb manipulations undertaken after modern glaucoma surgery., Methods: Bleb manipulations were recorded after trabeculectomy surgery on 119 consecutive patients with at least 1 year of follow-up. The type of intervention and time after surgery were recorded. Statistical analysis identified success rates at various intraocular pressure (IOP) cut-off definitions and identified factors that increased the risk for bleb manipulation., Results: In all, 78.2% of trabeculectomies were followed by some form of bleb manipulation. Almost 49% of blebs underwent massage and a similar number required at least one suture removal, 31.1% required at least one 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) injection and 25.2% required at least one needling and 5-FU injection. The median time to the first intervention for massage, suture removal, 5-FU injection, and needling and 5-FU injection were 1, 14, 14 and 43 days, respectively. IOP measurements were higher at all follow-up time points in the intervention group. Failure to achieve specific IOP target pressures was also generally poorer in the 5-FU, and needling and 5-FU intervention groups., Conclusions: Postoperative intervention is a frequent occurrence after modern glaucoma surgery. This requires intensive postoperative follow-up and is a labour-intensive undertaking. Despite interventions in our group of patients, IOP in the intervention group was always higher than in the group that required no intervention.

Aim: To report a novel technique using amniotic membrane to cover exposed glaucoma tube shunts., Methods: A consecutive series of three cases that underwent drainage tube shunt surgery with the Ahmed valve for intractable glaucoma. All three patients developed exposure of the tube secondary to necrosis of the overlying bovine pericardial patch and conjunctiva. Repair of the defect was carried out with a double layer of amniotic membrane, the inner one acting as a graft and the outer as a patch. Autologous serum was used to promote epithelial growth., Results: Successful lasting closure of the conjunctival defect was achieved in all cases., Conclusion: Erosion of the drainage tube following shunt surgery is a potentially serious problem. It can be successfully managed using a double layer of amniotic membrane.

Aims: To assess the prevalence and cumulative incidence of open angle glaucoma (OAG) in a cohort group of siblings of OAG probands., Methods: Between 1994 and 2003, a group of siblings of OAG probands underwent both initial and follow up standardised ophthalmic examinations. Siblings were classified as "definite glaucoma" (primary OAG (POAG) and normal tension glaucoma (NTG)), "glaucoma suspects" (NTG suspects or ocular hypertension (OHT)), and normal. The prevalence and cumulative incidence of OAG over the follow up interval were calculated., Results: At the initial study, 271 siblings (mean age 63.6 years; female to male ratio 1.2) from 156 probands were examined. 32 (11.8%) were classified as definite glaucoma and 15 (5.5%) as suspects. In the follow up study, 157 of the 224 "normal" siblings from the initial study were examined (mean interval from initial study 7.0 (SD 1.0) years). 11 (7%) were classified as definite glaucoma and 30 (19.1%) as suspects. There were significant trends of increasing prevalence and incidence of OAG with age and a lifetime risk estimated at approximately 20% by age 70., Conclusion: Siblings of glaucoma patients have an increased risk of developing glaucoma and the risk increases with age. An effective and repeated screening programme should be considered for this high risk group.

Aim: To assess microbial contamination of 20% autologous serum (AS) eye drops used in a hospital inpatient setting., Method: 14 patients received autologous serum drops from 4 to 14 days with a cumulative total of 67 days. For each day the first and last drop (total 134 samples) was cultured on broth and blood agar., Results: Four patients (9 samples) grew Staphylococcus epidermidis only. One patient (1 sample) showed Staphylococcus epidermidis and a scanty growth of viridans streptococci in the same sample, and on different days the same patient grew Staphylococcus aureus in one sample and Staphylococcus epidermidis in another sample. One patient (1 sample) grew micrococcus. There was no clinical or microbial evidence of infection in any of these six patients., Conclusion: This study shows that autologous serum drops can be safely used in an inpatient setting, under a strict protocol of preparation and storage, without significant risk of bacterial contamination and consequent infection.

Aim: To report the failure of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) for ocular surface reconstruction in patients with severe acute chemical and thermal burns., Methods: Four eyes of three patients who suffered severe chemical (n=3) and thermal (n=1) burns were studied. The aim of AMT was to prevent symblepharon formation, promote conjunctival regeneration, inhibit corneal melting by promoting epithelialisation, and to protect the ocular surface while associated lid burns were treated. AMT was used to cover the entire ocular surface of all the severely burnt and ischaemic eyes, 2-3 weeks after the injury. Where indicated, AMT was repeated by itself or in combination with other procedures in all patients., Results: Three of the four eyes developed symblepharon and progressive corneal melt requiring urgent tectonic keratoplasty. All four eyes had persistent epithelial defects. Less than 25% of conjunctival regeneration occurred in three eyes. Two eyes autoeviscerated, one patient underwent lid sparing exenteration for a painful blind eye and one eye became phthysical., Conclusions: AMT did not help to restore the ocular surface or preserve the integrity of the eye in all our patients with severe acute burns, when used by itself or in combination with other surgical procedures. This reflects the extreme severity of the ocular burns in these patients and, in turn, draws attention to the fact that the current classification system does not adequately reflect such severity. In the current system such burns would be grouped under grade IV injuries to the eye (more than 50% limbal ischaemia). The prognosis of patients with 100% limbal ischaemia is much worse than patients with just over 50% limbal ischaemia. This inadequacy of the classification system probably also explains the difference between outcomes of management of grade IV burns (with AMT) in this series, compared with others.