AAOpt 2025: Optimizing glaucoma care with Dr Jessica Steen

Jessica Steen, OD, FAAO, of Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, provided insights into glaucoma management at the American Academy of Optometry's annual Academy meeting in Boston, Massachusetts. Her presentation, "Optimizing Glaucoma Care: Managing the Comorbidities," emphasized a holistic and collaborative approach to patient care.

The core of her presentation centered on the importance of managing patients with comorbid ocular conditions. She highlighted that when glaucoma brings a patient to an eye care professional, it presents an opportunity to evaluate and address other ophthalmic conditions comprehensively. This approach involves comanaging patients with various specialists, including retina specialists, endocrinologists, and primary care physicians. Steen stressed the significance of understanding the complex interactions between different eye conditions. She specifically notes that while topical ophthalmic agents used in glaucoma treatment may not cause dry eye disease, they can potentially exacerbate existing ocular surface conditions. This underscores the critical need for proactive management of ocular surface disease, both at the time of glaucoma diagnosis and even before glaucoma is suspected.

A key theme in Steen's presentation is the paramount importance of communication in healthcare. She believes that new tools and secure methods of sharing medical data between providers are essential for comprehensive patient care. This includes not only sharing ophthalmic information among eye care professionals but also exchanging pertinent systemic medical information across different medical specialties. Steen also acknowledges the advanced therapeutic and procedural strategies now available for managing glaucoma patients throughout their potentially long treatment journey. Her approach emphasizes individualized care, recognizing that each patient's needs are unique and require a multifaceted, collaborative approach.

The presentation ultimately advocated for a patient-centered model of care that goes beyond treating a single condition, instead focusing on the patient's overall health and well-being through integrated, communicative, and comprehensive medical management.