Bronwyn Ridge, Emmanuelle Souzeau, Jamie E. Craig

Purpose: To establish glaucoma detection pathways for participants in the Australian and New Zealand Registry of Advanced Glaucoma (ANZRAG) includ- ing motivation for eye examinations and barriers to detection.
Methods: Retrospective study utilising participants from the ANZRAG. Questionnaires were mailed to 4024 participants. Information recorded included: family history of glaucoma, family discussion of glaucoma, new diagnosis of glaucoma in the family since participation in study commenced and a per- sonal journey through detection of glaucoma.
Results: 1595 responses have been received includ- ing participants with glaucoma (78.7%), glaucoma suspects (13.2%) and unaffected cases with high risk profiles (8.1%). First suspicion of glaucoma was detected by optometrists in 55% of cases, with oph- thalmologists (32.9%) and general practitioners (6.5%) less common. Eye examinations were prompted by need for refractive correction, family history of glaucoma, other eye/medical conditions and routinely scheduled appointments. An increase in family discussion regarding glaucoma was indi- cated by 65.2% of respondents with 41.0% stating a family member had been screened for the first time.
87 cases of new glaucoma were detected in 75 of these families. Barriers to detection were mostly reported amongst cases of primary congenital glau- coma, anterior segment dysgenesis, pigment disper- sion and angle closure glaucoma.
Conclusion: Optometrists detected first signs of glaucoma in over half of the ANZRAG cases. Partici- pation in glaucoma research may contribute to increased family discussion of glaucoma risk and family screening, resulting in new glaucoma diagno- ses. Barriers to detection in some glaucoma subtypes may guide future industry education.