Outcome measures in childhood glaucoma: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Purpose To synthesize the outcome measures used by randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for childhood glaucoma. Methods MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Scopus were searched from inception to February 17, 2023. Randomized controlled trials and observational studies related to childhood glaucoma were included. Primary and secondary outcomes were extracted and the data was used to generate a literature review. Results This review identified 42 unique reports pertaining to childhood glaucomas. Most of the studies originated from Egypt, India, and the USA. Intraocular pressure (IOP) outcomes were the most frequent outcomes studied, followed by clinical outcomes and safety outcomes. Clinical outcomes were the most common secondary outcomes studied, followed by IOP outcomes and safety outcomes. Conclusions This systematic review found heterogenous outcomes with IOP outcomes as the most studied primary outcome. As the remaining outcomes were not consistently utilized, this review highlights the need for a consensus on studies of pediatric glaucoma.