Randomised controlled trial of screening and prophylactic treatment to prevent primary angle closure glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if screening with an ultrasound A-scan and prophylactic treatment of primary angle closure (PAC) with laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) can reduce the incidence of primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) in Mongolia.


METHODS
A single-masked randomised controlled trial was initiated in 1999. 4725 volunteer Mongolian participants ≥ 50 years old from the capital Ulaanbaatar or the rural province of Bayankhongor were recruited, of which 128 were excluded with glaucoma. 4597 were randomly allocated to the control, no-screening arm or screening with ultrasound central anterior chamber depth (cACD), with the cut-off set at < 2.53 mm. 685 screen-positive participants were examined and angle closure was identified by gonioscopy in 160, of which 156 were treated with prophylactic LPI. Primary outcome of incident PACG was determined using both structural and functional evidence from objective grading of paired disc photographs from baseline and follow-up, objective grading of follow-up visual fields and clinical examination.


RESULTS
Six years later, 801 (17.42%) participants were known to have died, and a further 2047 (53.92%) were traced and underwent full ophthalmic examination. In an intention to treat analysis using available data, PACG was diagnosed in 33 participants (1.61%, 95% CI 1.11% to 2.25%), of which 19 were in the screened group and 14 in the non-screened group (OR 1.29, 95% CI 0.65 to 2.60, p = 0.47), indicating no difference between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
We were not able to identify a reduction in the 6 year incidence of PACG after screening with cACD < 2.53 mm and prophylactic treatment of PAC.
International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Jennifer L Y
JL
Yip
Paul J
PJ
Foster
Davatseren
D
Uranchimeg
Balt
B
Javzandulam
Dash
D
Javzansuren
Tsengenbayar
T
Munhzaya
Pak S
PS
Lee
Jamyanjav
J
Baassanhuu
Clare E
CE
Gilbert
Peng T
PT
Khaw
Gordon J
GJ
Johnson
Winifred P
WP
Nolan
D000368:Aged; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D015812:Glaucoma, Angle-Closure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D032801:Iridectomy / Q000379:methods*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012423:Rural Health; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014504:Urban Health