title: A National Survey of Glaucoma Specialists on the Preoperative (Trabeculectomy) Management of the Ocular Surface (.).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preserved anti-glaucoma drops cause ocular surface disease (OSD), which is increasingly being recognized as a likely cause of trabeculectomy failure.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the routine pre-trabeculectomy management of the ocular surface by glaucoma specialists.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire consisting of 11 questions was posted to 146 UK glaucoma specialists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The first-time response rate was 43.8%. Regarding routine pre-operative management, 40.6% of specialists use preservative-free drops, 29.7% commence a drop holiday, and 53% advise lid hygiene. 42.1% prescribe lubricants, 50% prescribe topical steroids, 7.8% topical NSAIDs, and 34.4% systemic tetracyclines. 84.4% of specialists change their routine management if OSD is present. Pre-operative optimization of the ocular surface is viewed "necessary" by 48.4% and "beneficial" by 85.9%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A wide variation exists in the routine pre-operative management of the ocular surface. Research to determine the impact of different pre-operative interventions upon trabeculectomy outcomes is required.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , University Hospitals , Birmingham , UK.
authors.forename: Rajen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tailor
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , University Hospitals , Birmingham , UK.
authors.forename: Ruchika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Batra
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , University Hospitals , Birmingham , UK.
authors.forename: Shabbir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohamed
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D000072163:Ophthalmologists; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013038:Specialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014130:Trabeculectomy; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical
keywords: Glaucoma; ocular surface disease; ocular surface inflammation; preservative; trabeculectomy