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The Glaucoma Book pp 23–34Cite as

An Evidence-Based Approach to Glaucoma Care

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Abstract

Put several glaucoma specialists in a room and solicit opinions on just about any clinical issue and you are bound to receive multiple opinions on how to manage the problem. For example, a patient presents with shallow angles on van Herrick screening. What gonioscopic features would prompt you to perform a laser iridotomy? Would you perform a dark room provocative test to confirm your impression that the angle was potentially occludable? Do you perform a pharmacological challenge test before proceeding to prophylactic laser iridotomy? Would you order an ultrasound biomicroscopic test to confirm your impression? If you do decide that prophylactic laser iridotomy is indicated, what is the best surgical technique for achieving patency? Is there evidence to support a “best approach” to the patient with the narrow angle? In this chapter, we discuss how evidence-based medicine (EBM) can be used to provide the very best answers to questions such as these. This approach can be applied not only to glaucoma problems, but also to any clinical problem in medicine.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, USA

    Louis R. Pasquale MD

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  1. Louis R. Pasquale MD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. 2889 10th Avenue, N., Palm Springs, 33461, USA

    Paul N. Schacknow

  2. Casey Eye Institute, Dept. Ophthalmology, Oregon Health & Sciences University, SW. Terwilliger Blvd. 3375, Portland, 97201-4197, USA

    John R. Samples

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Pasquale, L.R. (2010). An Evidence-Based Approach to Glaucoma Care. In: Schacknow, P., Samples, J. (eds) The Glaucoma Book. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-76700-0_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-76700-0_2

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