What is GlauCAT™️?
GlauCAT™️ is a computerized adaptive testing (CAT) system that measures the impact of glaucoma, and associated vision loss and glaucoma treatments on multiple domains of quality of life.
Domains and items in GlauCAT™️
The 12 patient-identified domains in GlauCAT™️ include 303 items that are specific to glaucoma,
associated vision impairment and glaucoma treatments.
Visual symptoms
Items
Items
Experience of unwanted visual disturbances
Ocular comfort symptoms
Items
Items
Experience of unwanted sensations in the eye
Activity limitation
Items
Items
Difficulty performing daily living activities
Mobility
Items
Items
Difficulty getting out and about independently
Emotional
Items
Items
Emotional reactions and psychological effects
Concerns
Items
Items
Concerns or worries about current and future impact
Social
Items
Items
Problems keeping up with usual social activities, roles and responsibilities
Convenience (general)
Items
Items
Bother associated with restrictions on daily life and the burden of eye care
Economic
Items
Items
Work-related difficulties and financial impact
Convenience (treatment)
Items
Items
Bother associated with managing glaucoma treatment regimens
Driving
Items
Items
Difficulty driving in different situations and having restrictions on driving
Lighting
Items
Items
Difficulty doing activities in challenging lighting conditions
Publications
Domain and item development and refinement
Qualitative interviews with patients and experts in the field.
Pilot testing
Psychometric testing of item banks using data from 293 patients with glaucoma.
Utilisation
The GlauCAT™️ item banks were used in the Glaucoma Initial Treatment Study to compare the impact of topical medication and selective laser trabeculoplasty on quality of life as initial glaucoma treatment.
GlauCAT™️ is currently being used in a clinical trial in patients with glaucoma to measure the impact of Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) on quality of life at the Singapore National Eye Centre.
GlauCAT™️ has also been implemented into glaucoma clinics at Mass. Eye and Ear Hospital, with patients’ GlauCAT scores being incorporated into clinical care and shared-decision making with patients during consultations with their treating ophthalmologist.
GlauCAT™️ is currently being used in an observational investigation by Perfuse Therapeutics of patients with open angle glaucoma and progressive visual field loss to understand the natural history of the condition and its impact on quality of life.
Researchers at the Wilmer Eye Institute are currently assessing patient experience with the GlauCAT™️ test administration process to determine the most practical way to employ the test and to what extent testing needs to be customised, as well as exploring what QoL domains are most affected in glaucoma patients across the severity of the condition.
