Learn more about Treating the Newly Diagnosed Glaucoma Patient with Dr. Ben Gaddie

It’s time for some Woo’s Wisdom! We just heard from the expert in glaucoma himself, Dr. Ben Gaddie, on “Treating the Newly Diagnosed Glaucoma Patient”. Let’s review some of the key takeaways from this in-depth review:

👁️ Dr. Gaddie stressed the importance of setting target pressures for a newly diagnosed patient. The goal should be around 30% reduction.

👁️ Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in glaucoma treatment was discussed. SLT reduces patients’ IOP comparable to medication with the side effects of medication. In addition, SLT results in significant cost savings relative to surgery and medication treatments. For example, for every patient given SLT in lieu of drops, the cost savings are greater than the cost of SLT for 2 additional patients.

👁️ Dr. Gaddie also reviewed some key glaucoma studies, including the AGIS study. Some key takeaways from these studies are that patients with consistent IOP readings below 18 mm Hg were positively correlated with visual field stability

👁️ Lastly, Dr. Gaddie discussed the importance of confirming what patients actually pick up from the pharmacy. Generic drops can show less effectivity compared to their brand-name counterparts.

Check out his full presentation and handouts at WooU.org under past events!