Clinical Audit on the Effectiveness of Clinic-Based Intraocular Pressure Phasing for Patients With Glaucoma and...

Glaucoma is a complex disease with intraocular pressure (IOP) playing an important role in its diagnosis and management. IOP has shown diurnal and nocturnal variations, which may affect the course of the disease.

The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of clinic-based office hour phasing in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma and glaucoma suspect (GS).

A retrospective clinical audit was conducted on patients who were subjected to office hour phasing in a glaucoma clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia, between January 2015 and December 2019. The office hour phasing was conducted for various indications such as confirmation of diagnosis, screening, and effectiveness of treatment. IOP was recorded every two hours between 0800 and 1600 using an air puff tonometer by a trained nurse. Measurement of IOP was repeated with Goldmann applanation tonometer at sitting position by a trainee when the IOP ≥ 20 mmHg or discrepancy of IOP > 2 mmHg between two eyes. Other investigations including a Humphrey visual field and gonioscopy were conducted in between the IOP measurements. Diagnosis and clinical decisions on management were made at the end of the office hour clinic phasing.

A total of 83 patients (163 eyes) were included in this clinical audit. Their mean age was 59.3 (16.5) years with 59% of male patients. Both eyes showed an almost similar pattern of mean IOP over five daytime readings in the clinic. A total of 35 eyes (21.5%) showed fluctuation ≥ 6 mmHg, and 128 eyes (78.5%) showed stable IOP during the clinic hour phasing. There was a significant difference in the mean IOP pattern between groups with stable and fluctuating IOP based on repetitive measure analysis of variance (RM ANOVA) (p = 0.008). The final diagnosis was made for 39 eyes (21 OD [right eye] and 18 OS [left eye]) out of 131 eyes (29.8%) with GS. Confirmation of diagnosis was achieved in all eyes (100%) with suspected ocular hypertension (OHT) and normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). Progression of glaucoma was confirmed in four eyes (2 OD and 2 OS) out of 17 eyes (23.5%) with suspected progression.

Clinic hour IOP phasing provides a practical approach in confirmation of diagnosis and adjustment in the management of patients with glaucoma and GS.