Consuming Patients' Days: Time Spent on Ambulatory Appointments by People With Cancer.

Background: In qualitative work, patients report that seemingly short trips to clinic (eg, a supposed 10-minute blood draw) often turn into "all-day affairs." We sought to quantify the time patients with cancer spend attending ambulatory appointments.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients scheduled for oncology-related ambulatory care (eg, labs, imaging, procedures, infusions, and clinician visits) at an academic cancer center over 1 week.

Prospective comparative switch study from timolol 0.5% and latanoprost 0.005% to bimatoprost 0.03%.

This prospective study compared intraocular pressure (IOP) control, cardiorespiratory function, and adverse effects in 50 patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Patients on topical combination timolol-latanoprost therapy were recruited. After they had used this combination for at least 2 months, they were switched to bimatoprost monotherapy.

Effect of a patient training video on visual field test reliability.

Aims: To evaluate the effect of a visual field test educational video on the reliability of the first automated visual field test of new patients.

Methods: A prospective, randomised, controlled trial of an educational video on visual field test reliability of patients referred to the hospital eye service for suspected glaucoma was undertaken. Patients were randomised to either watch an educational video or a control group with no video.

Optic disc cup slope and visual field indices in normal, ocular hypertensive and early glaucomatous eyes.

Aim: To evaluate the correlation between internal slope analysis of the optic nerve head and visual field changes in normal eyes and those with ocular hypertension (OHT) and early glaucoma (POAG).

Methods: One eye of each of 22 normal subjects, 21 patients with ocular hypertension, and 50 patients with glaucoma were examined using the TopSS scanning laser ophthalmoscope. A series of topographic parameters measuring the internal features of the optic discs of these patients were obtained.

Spirometry for patients prescribed topical beta-blockers.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of four glaucoma medications on the cardio-respiratory system.

Method: All newly diagnosed glaucoma (primary open-angle glaucoma--POAG--or normal tension glaucoma) patients were recruited into a 12-month prospective audit.

Results: The study has resulted in glaucoma patients having a spirometry lung function test before being prescribed beta-blocker eye drops.