Ocular surface disease signs and symptoms of glaucoma patients and their relation to glaucoma medication in Finland.

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of ocular surface disease (OSD) signs and symptoms of glaucoma patients in private clinics in relation to topical glaucoma treatment and to compare them to non-glaucomatous population.

Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional study consisting of private ophthalmology clinic visits in southern Finland. Glaucoma patients had a diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma, pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, pigmentary glaucoma, or treated ocular hypertension.

Improving health-related quality of life in glaucoma during 11 years and its association with vision loss and treatment of the disease.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of glaucoma on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and mental health in the ageing population of Finland.

Methods: Altogether 7380 and 5774 Finnish individuals aged 30 years and older with known eye disease status were studied in 2000 and 2011, respectively, in two population-based surveys, including an 11-year follow-up of 4683 participants. Data on HRQoL (EQ-5D-3L, 15D), depression (BDI), psychological distress (GHQ-12) and eye disease diagnoses were obtained from self-reported assessments.

Comparing glaucoma medications and general demographics in a sample of glaucoma patients treated in private practice with nationwide registry data in Finland.

Purpose: To investigate the outpatient glaucoma care provided by Finnish private ophthalmologists and to compare this information with the data obtained from national databases.

Methods: The data were collected by 13 investigators in 27 centres in southern Finland. Patient demography, relevant systemic diseases, possible history of ocular surgery, duration of glaucoma, intraocular pressure (IOP) and type of glaucoma were registered.

Patient stratification in clinical glaucoma trials using the individual tear proteome.

Glaucoma patients are prone to concomitant ocular surface diseases; however, switching from preserved to preservative-free medication can often alleviate these symptoms. The objective of this study was to examine how the adverse effects and tear proteome change for glaucoma patients (n = 28) during a 12-month drug switch from preserved latanoprost (Xalatan) to preservative-free tafluprost (Taflotan). We hypothesized that patient stratification could help identify novel recovery patterns in both tear proteomics and clinical data.

Handling test of eye drop dispenser--comparison of unit-dose pipettes with conventional eye drop bottles.

Purpose: The aims of this study were to investigate how elderly people handle single-use eye drop dispensers (unit-dose pipettes) and to compare the performance with conventional eye drop bottles.

Methods: In this open-label study, the handling of unit-dose pipettes and conventional eye drop bottles was compared in 41 elderly people who had little or no prior regular use of eye drop dispensers. The participants tested both types of dispenser once, and the following 7 variables were studied: ease/difficulty of opening the dispenser; influence of the size for handling of the dispenser; influence of the shape for handling of the dispenser; observation of the contents in the dispenser; the feeling of the dispenser in the hand; ease/difficulty of drop instillation on the eye from the dispenser; and overall performance of the eye drop dispenser.