PURPOSE. Assessment of the state of primary disability (PD) caused by glaucoma in the adult population of the Krasnoyarsk Region over time in the period from 2017 to 2021.

METHODS. The information from the reporting documentation of the Bureaus of Medical and Social Expertise (MSE) of Russia and the Krasnoyarsk Region for 2017–2021 was analyzed. The analysis of primary disability indicators was carried out for two age groups of the adult population: individuals of working age (men aged 18–59; women aged 18–54) and individuals of retirement age (men aged 60 and older; women aged 55 and older). The obtained results were processed using the Statistica 10.0 software (StatSoft, USA).

RESULTS. During 2017–2021 in the Krasnoyarsk Region, 1930 adults were recognized for the first time as disabled due to an ocular pathology. Glaucoma occupied the first ranking place — 31.0% (599) of cases in the structure of primary disability. Individuals of retirement age became disabled in 86.8% (520) of cases. Residents of the cities of the region became disabled in 69.1% (414) of cases. Males dominated among those who were recognized as disabled for the first time (RDF) due to glaucoma — 60.4% (362) of cases. The level of PD for glaucoma among the adult population of the region in 2017 was 0.52, in 2018 — 0.52, in 2019 — 0.59, in 2020 — 0.44, in 2021 — 0.57 per 10 thousand adult population. For five years, there was an increase in the level of PD due to glaucoma by 50% among the able-bodied urban population of the region, by 45.6% among senior citizens, by 110% among the able-bodied village population. In persons of retirement age living in rural areas of the region, the prevalence of PD decreased by 21.1%. The maximum values of the intensive indicator of PD were determined for men of retirement age: in 2017 — 3.6 per 10 thousand, in 2021 — 3.8 per 10 thousand of the corresponding population of the region. Formation of the contingent of disabled people occurred mainly due to the RDF of I and II disability groups. The proportion of group I disability was the largest — 40.4% (242/599) of cases. People with group I disability were more often treated with local antihypertensive drugs, were operated on at stage 3 of glaucoma.

CONCLUSION. To reduce primary disability for glaucoma it is necessary to increase preventive efforts, timely use modern methods of diagnosis and treatment, including surgery, and ensure sufficient availability of ophthalmological personnel and high-tech equipment.

PURPOSE. To study the relationship of the lamina cribrosa curvature index with morphofunctional and microvascular parameters in glaucoma.

METHODS. The lamina cribrosa curvature index (LCCI) was studied using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in 108 patients (108 eyes) with primary open-angle glaucoma and 45 controls (45 eyes) aged 60 to 81 years. Additionally, all subjects underwent OCT measurement of the thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell complex (GCC), OCT angiography to determine vessel density in the optic nerve disc, macula (fovea and parafovea), as well as measurement of the area of peripapillary choroidal atrophy (PCA), choroidal microvasculature dropout (cMvD) and the peripapillary choroidal thickness (CTp).

RESULTS. LCCI was significantly higher in patients with glaucoma compared to the controls: 7.65±0.17 and 8.68±0.39, respectively (p=0.016). Significant correlations of LCCI with perimeter indices were revealed in glaucoma, but not in the control group: MD (r=-0.563; p<0.01) and PSD (r=0.454; p<0.01), as well as with RNFL parameters (r=-0.509; p<0.01) and GCC (r=-0.618; p<0.01), parafoveal retinal thickness (r=-0.530; p<0.01) and peripapillary choroid (r=-0.518; p<0.01). An inverse relationship was observed between LCCI and capillary density in the ONH (r=-0.480; p<0.01) and in fovea and parafovea (r=-0.455; p<0.01). Larger area of choroidal microvasculature dropout (cMvD) corresponded to higher LCCI values (r=0.506; p<0.01).

CONCLUSION. LCCI is an important biomarker of glaucoma lesions. The relationship of this indicator with the parameters of the microcirculatory bed in the retina, ONH and choroid, as well as with morphofunctional parameters indicates early involvement of the lamina cribrosa in the glaucoma process.

PURPOSE. To analyze the biomechanical parameters of the fibrous membrane of the eye in patients with normaltension glaucoma (NTG) in comparison with primary openangle glaucoma (POAG).

METHODS. The study compared 37 eyes with NTG and 78 eyes with POAG, which were comparable in stages (initial and developed NTG was in 78%, POAG — in 77% of cases), in age (NTG — 63.62±1.9 years, POAG — 59.85±1.1 years (p=0.088)). The control group included 19 healthy eyes. Corneal tomography and biomechanical parameters were measured using Pentacam (Oculus) and Corvus ST, respectively.

RESULTS. The following differences were revealed in NTG compared to POAG: axial length (24.8±2.3 mm, 23.97±2.3 mm, respectively, p<0.01), central corneal thickness (CCT; 513.97± 5.2 µm, 557.7±3.9 µm, respectively, p<0.01). Corneal stiffness in patients with NTG is reduced (DA ratio 4.7±0.07, R 8.9±0.15) in comparison to POAG (DA ratio 4.07±0.08, R 7.56±0.2) with p<0.01. SP-A1 is lower in NTG (101.65±3.8) than in POAG (128.49±2.6), p<0.01. Stress–strain index (SSI) is also reduced in NTG (1.14±0.04) compared to POAG (1.25±0.03), p=0.026. Biomechanical glaucoma factor (BGF) in NTG is 57±3.5; in POAG — 17.1±1.9 (p<0.01). In NTG corneal stiffness is lower than in a healthy eye (DA Ratio 4.02±0.08 and R 7.63±0.2), p<0.01, the differences in other parameters are not significant. POAG differs from a healthy eye only in the increased stiffness of the fibrous membrane SP-A1 (p=0.044). In NTG the P0 pressure did not differ from biomechanically corrected intraocular pressure (bIOP; 13.95±0.5 and 13.96±0.3, respectively) and was lower than in POAG in all stages of glaucoma. At the same time, in NTG the bIOP level did not differ, while in far-advanced stage of POAG it was elevated.

CONCLUSION. NTG differs from POAG in reduced rigidity of the entire fibrous membrane of the eye, and from healthy eyes — in cornea being more prone to displacement.

PURPOSE. To analyze specific clinical and epidemiological parameters of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) who were admitted for surgical treatment to the ophthalmological hospital of a multi-specialty in-patient medical center in the period of 2021–2022 years.

METHODS. The retrospective elective study analyzed data from 95 patients (95 eyes) with different stages of primary open-angle glaucoma (mean age 73 [67; 80] years old) who were hospitalized for surgical treatment of the disease in 2021–2022. In addition to standard ophthalmological examination, several clinical and epidemiologic characteristics were analyzed in detail, including the prevalence of prescriptions for antiglaucoma hypotensive drugs. Comparison of the obtained results with the data of similar procedures performed in the period from 2005 to 2016 was carried out.

RESULTS. The number of main comorbid somatic diseases was on average 3 (2; 4), and comparison of conditions by disease stage revealed no significant differences (p>0.05). Mean duration of the disease (according to anamnesis) was 8 (4; 13) years and was longer in comparison with similar results from 2005–2006 presented in a previous study. The period preceding the first surgical intervention was 5 (2; 10) years and was statistically significantly longer in those with moderate stage of POAG (9 [3; 14] years) compared to those with early stage of POAG (4 [3; 5] years, p<0.05) and advanced stage of POAG (6 [0; 10] years, p<0.04). The average number of drugs at the time of hospitalization for surgical treatment has increased significantly in comparison with the data of the early-mid 2000s and amounted to 4 (3; 4) units (stage I glaucoma — 3 [3; 4]; stage II — 4 [3; 4]; stage III — 4 [3; 4] units), with no statistically significant difference (p1,2=0.64; p1,3=0.21; p2,3=0.42, respectively).

CONCLUSION. Unwarranted long-term use of a large number of antiglaucoma drugs ("maximal medication therapy adherence") is a significant problem in modern glaucomatology and can evidently affect future prognosis of the disease.

PURPOSE. The aim of the study was to evaluate the tolerability and effectiveness of the preservative-free combination eye drops timolol 0,5%/travoprost (Travapress Duo, ROMPHARM Company) when changing therapy in patients with initial and moderate stages of glaucoma after phacoemulsification of age-related cataract.

METHODS. The study included 38 patients with disorders of the ocular surface with specific complaints, initial and moderate stages of glaucoma compensated for therapy with β-blockers and prostaglandin F2-α analogues. The patients were using monodrugs of these groups, or their fixed combinations. All patients had previously undergone phacoemulsification of age-related cataract with implantation of a monofocal aspherical intraocular lens. The main group consisted of 18 patients who underwent a change in antiglaucoma therapy to a preservative-free combination eye drops timolol 0,5%/travoprost (Travapress Duo, ROMPHARM Company) with once-per-day instillation regimen. Participants included in the control group (20 patients) remained on the treatment they had been using. All patients completed a questionnaire survey of subjective complaints and their condition, underwent assessment of the level of intraocular pressure (IOP), visual functions, parameters of the state of ocular surface (Schirmer test, epitheliopathy according to the Oxford scale), perimetric data on Humphrey 860 (Humphrey Field Analyzer III 860, Zeiss, USA), as well as morphometric parameters and indicators of retinal blood flow and optic nerve on OCT Cirrus 5000 Angioplex (Zeiss, USA) over three months of observation.

RESULTS. After switching the drug all patients of the main group experienced a significant improvement in their subjective condition and gave less complaints about the ocular surface. At the same time, stable IOP compensation and no changes in retinal light sensitivity were achieved according to the results of perimetry, the morphometric data and indicators of retinal and optic nerve blood flow.

CONCLUSION. The combined preservative-free eye drops timolol 0,5%/travoprost (Travapress Duo, ROMPHARM Company) is well tolerated by patients and is an effective antiglaucoma drug that allows achieving target IOP level with stabilization of morphological and functional parameters in patients with initial and moderate stages of glaucoma after previous cataract phacoemulsification.

Secondary neovascular glaucoma can be the first sign of HIV infection. The main pathogenesis of proliferative processes in the iris and anterior chamber angle are HIVassociated angiopathy, which initiates hypoxia, and an imbalance of endothelial factors. Secondary neovascular glaucoma often occurs as a complication of central retinal vein thrombosis in the older age group or a consequence of previous uveitis. Neovascular glaucoma occurring in a young patient may indicate HIV infection. The publication describes a clinical case of secondary neovascular glaucoma in a young patient as the first sign of manifestation of the HIV infection. A 40-year-old patient with laboratory-confirmed HIV infection complained of decreased vision, pain, redness and lacrimation in the left eye. No other systemic signs of HIV infection were detected. Ophthalmological examination revealed a weak uveal reaction and single vessels along the pupillary edge of the iris. The reason of vision decrease was glaucomatous atrophy of the optic nerve due to neovascular glaucoma. One of the methods of surgical treatment of patients with neovascular glaucoma is modified direct cyclocryopexy, its advantage is a low risk of hemorrhagic complications, suppression of neovascularization, adequate hypotensive and analgesic effects. This clinical case illustrates a good hypotensive result in a 4-year follow-up.

PURPOSE. To evaluate the effect of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) after multiple intravitreal injections (IVI) of brolucizumab on changes in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and perfusion of the optic nerve head.

METHODS. The study included 20 patients with newly diagnosed exudative form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). All patients underwent IVI of brolucizumab. IOP measurements were taken with an ICare Pro tonometer before IVI, one minute after IVI, then after 30 minutes and 180 minutes. Thickness of the peripapillary RNFL was measured using Spectralis OCT (Heidelberg Engineering, Germany). The optic disc was examined using OCT angiography on Revo NX (Optopol Technology SA, Poland). All studies were carried out before the start of treatment, after one month, after the third injection, and one year after the start of treatment.

RESULTS. Analysis of peripapillary scans in a patient with a history of multiple IVI a year after the start of treatment with brolucizumab showed a statistically significant decrease in perfusion density and fractal dimensions (skeleton) in the entire optic nerve head (ONH) (p<0.001), in the inner ONH area (p<0.001, p=0.01, respectively), in the nasal sector (p=0.03, p=0.04, respectively), temporal sector (p<0.001) and inferotemporal sector (p=0.03) according to OCT angiography. It was determined that a greater increase of IOP one min after IVI was associated with a greater decrease in the density and fractal dimensions of the radial peripapillary capillaries of the inner ONH (p=0.005, rs=0.5; p=0.004, rs=0.6, respectively). A decrease in RNFL thickness was found one year after the start of IVI treatment with brolucizumab (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION. According to OCT angiography, vascular perfusion density of the ONH was decreased during IVI of brolucizumab, and RNFL thickness was also decreased one year after the start of treatment.

This review summarizes the results of surgical treatment of faradvanced stage glaucoma in the only seeing eye. A literature search performed in the PubMed search engine and aimed at finding publications reporting the clinical outcomes of treatment in patients with glaucoma in the only seeing eye did yield sufficient data related to the topic. A comprehensive analysis of the available data was performed with an emphasis on the choice of treatment tactics and postoperative results at various times following a surgery. Several studies allowed to perform a comparison of the clinical advantages and costeffectiveness of medical treatment versus surgery for advanced glaucoma, as well as to assess potential risks and adverse outcomes such as glaucoma progression, postoperative scarring, hypotension and other complications. The results presented in this review suggest that common success criteria can provide uniformity in academic studies, but in daily clinical practice each glaucoma specialist must make a patientspecific decision in favor of either of these methods of treatment in order to guarantee an optimal result, both for the doctor and, of course, for the patient.

This review summarizes the results of surgical treatment of far-advanced stage glaucoma in the only seeing eye. A literature search performed in the PubMed search engine and aimed at finding publications reporting the clinical outcomes of treatment in patients with glaucoma in the only seeing eye did yield sufficient data related to the topic. A comprehensive analysis of the available data was performed with an emphasis on the choice of treatment tactics and postoperative results at various times following a surgery. Several studies allowed to perform a comparison of the clinical advantages and cost-effectiveness of medical treatment versus surgery for advanced glaucoma, as well as to assess potential risks and adverse outcomes such as glaucoma progression, postoperative scarring, hypotension and other complications. The results presented in this review suggest that common success criteria can provide uniformity in academic studies, but in daily clinical practice each glaucoma specialist must make a patient-specific decision in favor of either of these methods of treatment in order to guarantee an optimal result, both for the doctor and, of course, for the patient.

Glaucoma is one of the main causes of low vision and irreversible blindness both in Russia and all over the world. Taking into account the huge budget expenditures of any country, both direct and indirect, required to provide ophthalmological care to a sufficiently large contingent of glaucoma patients, including annual losses of economic productivity associated with visual impairment, the practical importance of glaucoma screening is beyond doubt. In addition, identification of patients at the onset of the disease would allow earlier start of the treatment aimed at stabilizing the glaucoma process. However, the questions remain whether it is possible to perform glaucoma screening in current realities, as well as what research methods should be used. To find the answers to these questions, we reviewed the literature and analyzed modern publications on the problem of glaucoma screening in different countries.

This review considers possible reasons for the decrease in the effectiveness of antihypertensive treatment in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients with a family history of the disease, presents clinical practice examples of the effectiveness and duration of antiglaucoma topical therapy and the mechanisms and manifestations of tachyphylaxis and tolerance disorders in such patients. Clinical features and the nature of POAG progression in patients with a hereditary predisposition may be reflected in the early decrease in the effectiveness of antihypertensive treatment. In some recent publications the authors proved a more aggressive course of POAG in patients with a family history of the disease, but despite that, such works at the moment are very limited in number and unsystematized. This, in turn, prevents drawing unambiguous conclusions regarding the features of the prescribed antihypertensive therapy. The article also discusses modern aspects of pharmacogenetics in patients with POAG, its further development will help minimize unwanted side effects as well as increase the effectiveness of antihypertensive drug treatment. The results of the work presented in this review allow systematization of the available data on impaired tolerance to antihypertensive therapy and maintain the need of further clinical research in this area.

In modern ophthalmic surgery, the "gold standard" recognized by most surgeons is ultrasound cataract phacoemulsification, which can’t be said about its antiglaucoma component. Some surgeons prefer to combine phacoemulsification with a filtering surgery, or follow the cyclodestructive approach, but taking into account that the main aqueous humor outflow pathway is through the trabecular meshwork, interventions on the Schlemm’s canal are the most relevant and pathogenetically valid. The article covers the main approaches to surgical interventions aimed at the trabecular meshwork in combination with phacoemulsification, and presents surgical techniques developed by the authors.