Laser treatment could significantly improve glaucoma care in Africa, potentially at no extra cost
Tanzanian study finds laser treatment was a more effective treatment than daily eye drops over a year

Date:
October 14, 2021
Source:
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Summary:
Laser treatment has the potential to transform the management
of glaucoma in Africa, and to prevent more people from going
irreversibly blind, particularly in regions with high disease
prevalence and incidence, suggests new research. Conducted
in Tanzania, the research is the first randomised controlled
trial exploring the use of the laser treatment, Selective Laser
Trabeculoplasty (SLT), for patients with glaucoma in Sub- Saharan
Africa.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Laser treatment has the potential to transform the management of glaucoma
in Africa, and to prevent more people from going irreversibly blind, particularly in regions with high disease prevalence and incidence,
suggests new research published in The Lancet Global Health.


========================================================================== Conducted in Tanzania, the research is the first randomised controlled
trial exploring the use of the laser treatment, Selective Laser
Trabeculoplasty (SLT), for patients with glaucoma in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Globally, glaucomas are the most frequent cause of irreversible
blindness, caused by a build-up of fluid in the eye. Africa has the
highest prevalence of the condition and highest prevalence of blindness
due to glaucoma. Rates in Sub-Saharan Africa are predicted to nearly
double by 2040.

Irreversible blindness caused by glaucoma can be prevented by reducing intraocular pressure through daily eye drops, eye surgery, or laser
treatment.

Currently timolol eye drops are the most affordable and commonly available treatments to reduce intraocular pressure.

The researchers found that SLT successfully reduced eye pressure to normal levels (up to 18 or 21mmHg) in significantly more patients after one year
(61% of eyes) compared to the standard treatment of timolol eye drops
(31% of eyes).

The study also considered the affordability of SLT, finding that in spite
of the initial cost of the laser equipment, for hospitals dealing with
high volumes of glaucoma patients the treatment could be offered at a
similar price as the annual supply of eye drops.



==========================================================================
The study was conducted by the International Centre for Eye Health
(ICEH) at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM),
in partnership with the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC)
in Tanzania. It was funded by the international disability charity CBM (Christian Blind Mission) and the Seeing is Believing Innovation Fund.

Dr Heiko Philippin, Clinical Research Fellow at the ICEH at LSHTM
and study lead, said: "Glaucoma requires life-long treatment and
follow-up to save a person's sight, which can be very challenging in
many settings. Currently, most people are treated with eye drops but
many struggle with taking them regularly or accessing new bottles,
for example due to cost or distance to the nearest clinic.

"These study results are exciting because they show that we can treat
glaucoma more successfully with a one-off or occasionally repeated
outpatient laser treatment to reduce eye pressure at least for one year, compared to the most commonly used eye drops in lower income regions. We
are grateful to all participants and our colleagues for their commitment
and hope that these findings will improve glaucoma care for many people
at risk of becoming blind." Timolol eye drops are subject to erratic application, systemic and local side- effects, and high long-term costs
due to the need for daily life-long treatment in settings where health insurance options are rare. The Lancet Global Health Commission on Global
Eye Health called for research into cost-effective glaucoma interventions, especially those that are applicable in low- and middle-income countries.

Dr William Makupa, Head of Ophthalmology at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, said: "In our setting glaucoma is diagnosed late, and some of the patients after sometime decide to ignore or just stop using eye drops. If
we can establish an alternative effective means of arresting the disease,
we would bring about a positive impact on the quality of life of these patients." SLT is already widely used in high-income countries. During
the treatment, approximately 100 laser spots are applied to the tissue
at the base of the cornea which is responsible for draining the fluid
from the eye.



========================================================================== While previous trials have compared SLT and eye drops, this is the first
to do so with predominantly advanced glaucoma patients and the first to
compare SLT with timolol. The study also reflects the typical spectrum
and associated challenges of glaucoma care in this region.

Of the patients enrolled, both eyes were included in the study if they
met the trial criteria -- 382 eyes in total. 100 patients (191 eyes) were treated with timolol eye drops and 101 patients (191 eyes) with SLT. After
one year, data from 339 eyes were analysed. The eye drop treatment was successful in 31.3% (55/176 eyes), while SLT was successful in 60.7%
(99/163 eyes).

Based on 500 eyes treated each year, and taking into account the cost
of the equipment and maintenance, one SLT procedure would cost $12.49
in total, while annual therapy with timolol eye drops cost around $16.32
per eye in Tanzania.

In this study 33 eyes required two SLT treatments, and 66 eyes were successfully treated after one procedure. Therefore, in spite of the
initial costs of the laser equipment, they estimate around 500 SLT
treatments would cost a similar price as timolol eye drops for hospitals dealing with high volumes of glaucoma patients.

Professor Matthew Burton, Director of the ICEH at LSHTM, said: "This
result is very important for improving glaucoma treatment in low- and middle-income countries. Poor eye health has a knock-on effect on poverty, employment and development. With the number of people affected by glaucoma
set to rise, studies such as these are crucial for identifying solutions
that can tackle the challenge and improve the lives and livelihoods of
those in Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. Showing a significant improvement
over the standard treatment for glaucoma is a real breakthrough for
treating the disease in areas that historically struggle with treatment
and adherence." The researchers acknowledge limitations of this study, including the follow-up time of one year which allows the study of eye
pressure reduction, safety, complications and cost, but is insufficient
to verify differences in loss of sight and quality of life. This will
require a longer follow-up period.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by London_School_of_Hygiene_&_Tropical_Medicine. Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Heiko Philippin, Einoti Matayan, Karin M Knoll, Edith Macha,
Sia Mbishi,
Andrew Makupa, Cristo'va~o Matsinhe, Vasco da Gama, Mario Monjane,
Awum Joyce Ncheda, Francisco Alcides Mulobuana, Elisante Muna,
Nelly Fopoussi, Gus Gazzard, Ana Patricia Marques, Peter Shah,
David Macleod, William U Makupa, Matthew J Burton. Selective laser
trabeculoplasty versus 0.5% timolol eye drops for the treatment
of glaucoma in Tanzania: a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet
Global Health, Oct. 13, 2021; DOI: 10.1016/ S2214-109X(21)00348-X ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211013184019.htm

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