CLINICAL ASSESSMENT OF MANAGEMENT WHEN CHOOSING A METHOD OF PROVIDING CARE TO PATIENTS WITH OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA

Abstract

Introduction: glaucoma is an essential international social and medical problem, as it leads to irreversible blindness in patients worldwide. Organization of treatment and prevention of complications using the most effective methods is the most important task of ophthalmologists at the present stage of the fight against glaucoma. The purpose of the study: to evaluate the management of assistance under the monitoring program «STOP! Glaucoma» to patients with suspected glaucoma, open-angle glaucoma, and more advanced stages of glaucoma. To compare the effectiveness of therapeutic and surgical methods of glaucoma treatment. Materials and methods: To detect and prevent the progression of glaucoma in patients, the LLC «VISIOBUD» Clinic developed and implemented the monitoring program «Stop! Glaucoma». The main task of program was to analyze the dynamics of glaucomatous changes in the optic nerve and, based on this, to determine whether glaucoma compensation is complete and whether the patient does not need a more radical treatment method to preserve visual functions. The following methods of empirical research were used: systematic approach - to determine the research elements between which there are relationships of objects and their properties; observation - to identify signs and external manifestations of facts; comparison – to determine similarities and differences and identify regularities; measurement; monitoring. Results: In the course of the study, the dynamics of changes in intraocular pressure in patients who follow the annual monitoring program «Stop! Glaucoma» in the clinic of LLC «VISIOBUD». 4 groups of patients (116 patients – 156 eyes) were under observation. Installed that in 75% of cases, patients need surgical treatment of glaucoma to preserve their visual functions. Surgical treatment of patients with open-angle glaucoma effectively preserves vision in 89% of cases. Conclusions: Timely detection, monitoring, and treatment of initial signs of open-angle glaucoma and symptoms of its progression affects the preservation and prolongation of visual functions in patients. In the long term, surgical treatment of glaucoma is more cost-effective, as the need to use expensive hypotensive drops is significantly reduced (by 2.5 times).