Mapping vision loss of patients in a glaucoma backlog following the COVID-19 pandemic: a real-world analysis using the Glauc-Strat-Fast risk stratification tool.

INTRODUCTION

Glauc-Strat-Fast is a clinical tool recommended by The Royal College of Ophthalmologists to classify glaucoma patients into strata of risk for significant future sight loss and an estimate of resource requirement. The aim of this study was to map the movement of glaucoma patients across stratification boundaries on Glauc-Strat-Fast during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Glauc-Strat-Fast was applied to a consecutive sample of 100 primary open angle glaucoma patients in a backlog at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. Stratification outcomes were compared between clinic visits prior to the COVID-19 pandemic versus the follow-up visit. Patients were stratified twice separately based on their worse eye (i.e., most affected) and better eye (i.e., least affected) according to Glauc-Strat-Fast.

RESULTS

Amount of slippage (difference between target follow-up and actual follow-up) ranged from 2 to 32 months. There was a statistically significant average reduction in visual field mean deviation for better and worse eyes between visits (p = <0.001). At follow-up, no worse eyes were classified as being low risk (green), while 96 were classified as high risk (red). For better eyes, elevation of risk into the highest strata of Glauc-Strat-Fast observed a three-fold increase in patients (19 versus 56) between visits.

DISCUSSION

This retrospective real-world analysis highlights patients' movement into the highest strata on the Glauc-Strat-Fast tool and demonstrates a significant deterioration in visual outcomes during a period of extensive appointment slippage. The findings demonstrate the utility of Glauc-Strat-Fast as a tool for improved patient management.