In-Depth Glaucoma Management: Key Takeaways from ‘Glaucoma Gauntlet’ with Dr. Mitch Ibach
Critical Glaucoma Insights! Our latest event with Dr. Mitch Ibach covered essential strategies for diagnosing and managing glaucoma over the long term. Here’s a detailed recap of what you need to know!
Key Takeaways:
Long-Term Risk of Glaucoma: Patients with ocular hypertension have a 45% chance of progressing to glaucoma over 20 years, with medication only slightly reducing that risk.
Diagnostic Indicators: Dr. Ibach highlighted OCT changes that matter, like inter-eye macular asymmetry of 5 microns, intra-eye asymmetry of 9 microns, and low RNFL thickness, all red flags for glaucoma progression. Low corneal hysteresis (<9.5) is a particularly strong risk factor for progression, indicating that the optic nerve has poor shock-absorbing properties.
Prostaglandin First-Line Treatment: Prostaglandins remain first-line due to their efficacy, ease of once-daily dosing, and minimal systemic side effects. Reducing IOP by even 1 mmHg lowers the risk of progression by 10-20%.
Family History: A first-degree family history increases glaucoma risk 9-fold, underscoring the importance of proactive monitoring for these patients.
Dr. Ibach emphasized the medical-minded optometrist’s role in early diagnosis, lowering IOP, and monitoring for long-term progression to preserve vision.
🔗 Explore the full insights and download session handouts at WooU.org under ‘Past Events’.
