Intraocular Pressure and Medication Changes Associated with Xen Gel Stent: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

The Xen gel stent (Allergan Inc, an AbbVie company; Dublin, Ireland) was conceived as an option for patients requiring modest IOP reduction but for whom trabeculectomy was not yet indicated. As with any glaucoma surgery, establishing criteria for patient selection and identifying factors that contribute to a high likelihood of success are important. To help guide clinical decision-making, a systematic review of published studies on the gel stent was performed, with the goal of understanding postoperative outcomes based on clinical and patient factors.

The Effect of an Educational Intervention on Adherence to Intraocular Pressure-Lowering Medications in a Large Cohort of Older Adults with Glaucoma.

Background: Glaucoma is a progressive, irreversible disease that can lead to vision loss and lower quality of life if treatment is not optimized. Effective glaucoma therapies are available to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) and minimize or delay disease progression. Nonetheless, adherence to treatment remains suboptimal for many patients.

Predictors of Nonadherence to Topical Intraocular Pressure Reduction Medications Among Medicare Members: A Claims-Based Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Reported adherence rates with ocular hypotensive medications typically range from 51% to 56% over the first year of therapy. As intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction slows the progression of vision loss from glaucoma, early identification of nonadherent members is crucial to effective disease management.

Objectives: To (a) identify member characteristics and other factors related to nonadherence with topical IOP-lowering medications available in administrative claims data and (b) create a predictive model incorporating these variables.

Understanding dry eye disease: a managed care perspective.

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disorder that results in eye discomfort, visual disturbance, and often ocular surface damage. This supplement to The American Journal of Managed Care discusses the prevalence of DED and the economic burden associated with DED. The etiology and pathophysiology of DED will also be discussed, including disease progression and impact on the patient's quality of life.

Cost-offset analysis: bimatoprost versus other prostaglandin analogues in open-angle glaucoma.

Objectives: To develop a cost-offset model from a US payer perspective comparing glaucomatous progression and costs among primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients using bimatoprost, latanoprost, or travoprost.

Study Design: Cost-offset model.

Methods: A Markov cohort model was used to estimate glaucomatous progression for POAG patients over 7 years.