150dpi_MEC_GRANTSTRATEGY_DIGITAL_01.07.26 - Flipbook - Page 14
Moofields Eye Charity - Grants Strategy
Exploring new ways
to treat patients
with glaucoma
Putting laser into practice
“The trial led to the change in the National
Institute for Health and Care Excellence
(NICE) guidelines, changing clinical practice
for patients with glaucoma. This was a big
step forward, helping to prove the impact
The LiGHT (laser in glaucoma and
ocular hypertension) trial began in
2012 to compare laser treatment
with eye drops for newly diagnosed
patients with glaucoma. After three
years, the initial phase of the study
ended. With our funding, Professor Gus
Gazzard, director of glaucoma service
at Moorfields Eye Hospital, extended
the trial for a further three years. He
reflects on how this helped strengthen
evidence for laser treatment and its
role in patient care.
“The funding from Moorfields Eye Charity
was the icing on the cake for the LiGHT
trial. It enabled us to do the really detailed
data mining we weren’t able to do
previously. We dug deep into the complex
of laser treatment.
“This guidance is important because
it informs commissioners who pay for
treatment. It also guides clinicians who
have to decide which treatments to offer
patients. Now, we’re seeing a rapid
increase in the number of laser treatments
carried out, year-on-year.
“To meet the demand for laser treatment,
we’ve expanded the workforce by training
optometrists and nurses to deliver the
service. The charity funded a study to look
at the feasibility of optometrists delivering
laser treatment to patients with glaucoma.
We now have the evidence to show that
these professionals can deliver laser
effectively and safely.”
data and extracted valuable information
about treatments for patients with
glaucoma.
“The data has shown us that, for most
patients, laser is as good as eye drops
at keeping eye pressure under control.
However, laser preserves vision better
than drops and saves people’s sight.
“Before the trial was set up, all patients
with glaucoma received drops. These
have a multitude of problems. Patients
may forget to take them. They don’t
always work and if they do, they can have
systemic side effects on the body as they
get into the bloodstream. The drops can
trigger conditions, like asthma, or cause
depression. For most patients, laser is
extremely safe, but we know it’s not a
single treatment that works for everybody.”
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The charity funded a study to
look at the feasibility of optometrists
delivering laser treatment to
patients with glaucoma. We now
have the evidence to show that
these professionals can deliver laser
effectively and safely.
Professor Gus Gazzard
Moorfields Eye Hospital
