WGA Announces consensus Findings to Further Define the Role of Intraocular Pressure in Glaucoma

Singapore (ots/PRNewswire) - Today, leading experts from the World
Glaucoma Association (WGA) launched the group's first consensus on
intraocular pressure (IOP). The panel recognized that elevated IOP is
the leading risk factor for glaucoma progression and accurate
measurement of IOP plays a key role in assessing glaucoma risk and
disease management. The panel's goal is to define more clearly the
relationship between IOP and the optic nerve to minimize permanent
damage, a leading cause of blindness worldwide.

The consensus panel, which represents 70 of the world's principal
glaucoma societies, launched its consensus at the World Glaucoma
Congress in Singapore. This marks the fourth consecutive annual
consensus statement.

"It is vital to define clearly how IOP relates to optic nerve
damage to improve patient care and to achieve consistency in glaucoma
management across the globe," said Robert N. Weinreb, M.D., Past
President of the WGA (formerly AIGS: Association of International
Glaucoma Societies), Chair of the WGA Consensus Committee, Director
of the Hamilton Glaucoma Center and Distinguished Professor of
Ophthalmology at the University of California, San Diego, USA. "Our
goal is to minimize glaucoma progression to preserve sight and
maintain the overall quality of life of our patients."

In total, seven consensus points were evaluated to help determine
how IOP should be measured and used, in order to understand better
its overall role in glaucoma:

- Determinants of IOP

- Measurement of IOP

- IOP Variation

- Epidemiology of IOP

- IOP as a risk factor for glaucoma development and progression

- Clinical trials and IOP

- Target IOP in clinical practice

The consensus report was based on more than two decades of
groundbreaking research, which confirmed that IOP is a primary
modifiable risk factor for glaucoma. Lowering IOP has been shown to
be the only approach demonstrated to prevent and delay glaucoma
progression.

Target IOP

The panel emphasized that IOP should be evaluated on an individual
basis depending on where the patient is along the glaucoma disease
continuum. The target levels for IOP should be defined as the
estimated range where the risk of progressive disease is unlikely to
affect the patient's quality of life. Clinicians should consider the
amount of glaucoma damage that has already occurred, the IOP at which
the initial optic nerve damage occurred, life expectancy, the status
of the fellow eye and family history of glaucoma.

IOP Measurement

The panel also considered ways to measure IOP accurately. In
particular, the measurement of central corneal thickness (CCT) was
identified as crucial. The time of day, how long people have been
awake and contact lens use all affect the precision of measurement of
CCT.

The panel highlighted other important parameters in the outcome of
glaucoma; the management of peak and mean IOP were seen as key
factors to improve current standards of care.

"The WGA is working constantly to improve the global management of
glaucoma in an effort to prevent what should be unnecessary vision
loss," said Ivan Goldberg, FRANZCO, WGA President and Clinical
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney,
Australia. "The WGA has created the consensus process to achieve
better patient care for those with glaucoma, and the panel's report
is respected globally."

ots Originaltext: World Glaucoma Association (WGA)
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Contacts: Mariska van der Veen, World Glaucoma Association,
+31-20-679-3411; Tracy Naden, WeissComm Partners, +1-415-518-5309