Surgical Approaches in Treating Uncontrolled Glaucoma in Black African and African-Caribbeans

The aim is to perform a randomised feasibility trial preceding a large prospective randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing three surgical methods - trabeculectomy with Mitomycin C (MMC), primary Baerveldt tube with MMC and Baerveldt tube without MMC - in black African/African Caribbean patients with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) living in London. The UK Office of National Statistics estimated that among the population of England in 2007, approximately 4.3% were of African/African-Caribbean background, while in large cities such as London and Birmingham about 20% of the population is of African/African-Caribbean origin. For eye units in these cities, managing glaucoma in this population is challenging and we need to identify a better alternative to our current standard surgical treatment. There is now evidence from one RCT which shows better overall outcomes from tube surgery in comparison to trabeculectomy for glaucoma. However, this study did not address black populations specifically and did not address the potential role of MMC in tube surgery. This feasibility study will enable us to design a fully powered RCT with the aim of determining how best to optimise the surgical treatment of POAG in black populations, by comparing outcomes in three types of glaucoma surgery.

An audit performed at St Thomas's Hospital in 2008 showed that 52 trabeculectomy and 50 Baerveldt tube procedures were done in one year, with 60% of the patients being of 'black' ethnicity. This audit provides the basis for teh recruitment target. Assuming that the majority of the trabeculectomies performed were for POAG then most of these 'black' patients would have been eligible for the trial. Primary Tube versus Trabeculectomy Study (PTVT) St Thomas' Hospital is the leading recruiting centre for this multinational study. The investigators have recruited over 50 patients in the last 2 years despite the lack of a dedicated research team. The trial retention rate has also been very good with less than 5% loss to follow-up rates. Patient Feedback and Involvement The proposed research was reviewed in a feedback session in 2012 with 5 black African-Caribbean/African patients with glaucoma attending St Thomas' Hospital. All were very positive about the potential trial and all understood that there is a 'unique' problem for glaucoma surgery in this group of patients. Suggestions for the trial included more emphasis on the importance of treatment for glaucoma, disseminating information about the trial in community centres, and the possibility of expert patients who can act as patient advocates and help with recruitment in the glaucoma clinics and present the study in local community centres. Feasibility study This protocol is for a randomised feasibility trial which will compare standard treatment (trabeculectomy with MMC) with primary Baerveldt tube surgery with or without MMC in black African/African-Caribbean patients with POAG living in London. The study will look at the feasibility of recruitment for a proposed larger scale RCT and will also help the investigators to refine the methodology for the proposed trial in terms of outcome measures and analysis. It will also help the investigators to recruit a patient user group for input into the conduct and monitoring of the main trial. Information the study will provide The investigators are conducting this feasibility study in order to get an estimate of the likely recruitment rate for the main study and to collect information that will help the investigators to refine the outcome measures for the main study and to allow a valid calculation of the sample size needed for a definitive study to answer the primary research question. The investigators will use questionnaires to gather data on patients' quality of life for health economic analysis but it is also our hope that the questionnaires will give the investigators information on the perspectives of patients, including their preferences. This feasibility study will help the investigators to explore how they can gather useful information on the patient perspective. The feasibility study will also inform their planning for the main trial and data management and help them to develop their community engagement and recruitment strategies, including theri strategy for publicising the trial and enhancing recruitment. In addition, the investigators intend to use the feasibility study to recruit a patient representative group for input into the conduct and monitoring of the proposed main study. Risks and benefits The potential risks and benefits for patients participating in the feasibility study are similar to those for standard clinical care. All participants will have been identified as in need of glaucoma drainage surgery. Both trabeculectomy (currently as first line treatment) and Baerveldt tube surgery (currently as second line treatment) are in routine use for the treatment of POAG. Evidence on the beneficial effect of MMC is equivocal. First line treatment with Baerveldt tube surgery may be associated with less failure and complications than first line treatment by trabeculectomy but there is as yet no definitive evidence on this question that is specific to the population included in this study.