18 July 2014
A new study comparing treatments for advanced glaucoma has recently started. TAGS will compare two standard NHS treatments – medical management (eye drops) or surgery (trabeculectomy) – to find out which is better in terms of participants’ quality of life.
Participating hospitals will seek to recruit new referrals to glaucoma clinics (via GPs or optometrists) to participate. Patients will be eligible if they have advanced glaucoma in at least one of their eyes and treatment is required to lower eye pressure to prevent further visual loss. Patients with advanced glaucoma must be recruited into the study within 3 months of their diagnosis. Patients who consent to take part will be randomly assigned to one of the two treatments. At least 20 hospitals across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland will participate in the Study.
Patients will be asked to complete questionnaires about their vision. In addition, the questionnaires will ask about their experiences and opinions of the treatment they received. Questionnaires will be completed either in the patient’s home or at clinic, as appropriate. Participants will be followed-up for approximately two years and will complete questionnaires when they join the study and then again at approximately 1, 3, 4, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months later. Because patients’ quality of life is the main measurement used in TAGS, the answers to these questions are the most important information collected in the study. The study will also gather clinical information about participants’ vision and eye health when they routinely visit the eye clinic.
TAGS is funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) Programme. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the HTA, NIHR, NHS or the Department of Health.
If you would like more information about this trial please follow the link below:
18 July 2014 A new study comparing treatments for advanced glaucoma has recently started. TAGS will compare two standard NHS treatments – medical management (eye drops) or surgery (trabeculectomy) – to find out which is better in terms of participants’ quality of life. Participating hospitals will seek to recruit new referrals to glaucoma clinics (via […]
Nishani Amerasinghe completed the Everest in the Alps challenge, raising over £18,000 for Glaucoma UK so far! As a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and Glaucoma Specialist at University Hospital Southampton, Nishani regularly sees the impact glaucoma can have on people. She’s also witnessed it in her own family, with her father having lived with the disease […]
Read More