Treating Glaucoma in Intellectually Disabled Patients: Novel Criteria for Choosing Surgical Candidates

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Genetics
• Public Health

Background:

• Patients with intellectual disabilities (ID) exhibit a higher prevalence of ocular pathologies, notably glaucoma.
• Limited literature exists on the management and surgical outcomes for glaucoma in patients with ID.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the management of surgical eye conditions in patients with ID.
• To propose novel criteria for selecting ID patients with glaucoma for surgical intervention.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature review was conducted.
• Historical considerations and current management strategies were analyzed.
• Criteria for surgical candidacy were developed based on existing data.

Main Results:

• The review highlights historical approaches to treating eye conditions in ID patients.
• It identifies gaps in current clinical guidance for glaucoma surgery in this population.
• Novel selection criteria for glaucoma surgery in ID patients are proposed.

Conclusions:

• There is a need for improved guidance on glaucoma surgery for patients with ID.
• The proposed criteria aim to optimize surgical decision-making and patient selection.
• Further research is warranted to validate these criteria and improve patient outcomes.