Care Delivery

SIG Corner Editor: Hana Abouzeid

Chair: Anton B. Hommer

Co-chair: Gabor Hollo

Update on ongoing projects The goal of this SIG is to keep an updated overview of glaucoma management and care (referral, diagnostics, medication and surgery) in Europe. In addition, the SIG is also tasked to: 1. propose ways of improvement of care 2. convert the results into suggestions for improved clinical practice. To these ends, in different investigations country/region specific data on resident education, clinical practice, instruments, medication availability, and surgical practice including new and less invasive techniques are collected. Members of the SIG have published 2 surveys (1,2), and a third research project is on the way. In the earlier prospective European survey, the quality of referrals for the first primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) surgery was evaluated (2). Of 294 European POAG referrals for first glaucoma-surgery only 41% were satisfactory. At the time of the referral the damage was typically advanced, and the care varied considerably among the countries. This suggests that further efforts are necessary to improve glaucoma care in Europe. The current ongoing research investigates the use of MIGS (minimally invasive glaucoma surgery) and MIBS (minimally invasive bleb-forming surgery) practice in Europe.

References: 1. Holló G, Hommer A; Delivery of Glaucoma Care Committee of the European Glaucoma Society. The status of glaucoma diagnostics and care in Europe in 2015: a European survey. Eur J Ophthalmol. 2016 May-Jun;26(3):216-20. 2. Holló G, Schmidl D, Hommer A. Referral for first glaucoma surgery in Europe, the ReF-GS study. Eur J Ophthalmol. 2019 Jul;29(4):406-416.

“The views expressed of EGS SIGs are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the EGS”

The search for EGS goal of “Paving the Way to Better Glaucoma Care” continues together with Outcome and other EGS Committees as well as SIGs, i.e. how to promote the best possible well-being and minimal glaucoma-induced visual disability in individuals with glaucoma within affordable healthcare systems. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily those of the EGS.