On May 4, 2024, Dr. Melissa Tawa, an optometrist from the Southern California College of Optometry, spoke at the Controversies in Modern Eye Care meeting about glaucoma. In the first panel, Dr. Tawa focused on OCT and visual field interpretation, corneal hysteresis, and management strategies to improve patients’ quality of life while controlling the disease. She emphasized the importance of considering how glaucoma medications and procedures can affect patients’ daily lives.
In the second panel, Dr. Tawa discussed advanced drug delivery systems like Durysta and the iDose TR as well as minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS) as alternatives to traditional topical medications. These technologies aim to reduce patients’ reliance on medications and improve compliance by providing new ways to control intraocular pressure (IOP) while decreasing drop burden.
Overall, Dr. Tawa shared her insights from both panels, highlighting the importance of considering not only the clinical management of glaucoma but also its impact on patients’ quality of life. By exploring new treatment options like advanced drug delivery systems and MIGS surgeries, optometrists can improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden of glaucoma medications on their daily lives.
