OBJECTIVES:To examine the longitudinal relationship between sensory functioning and a broad range of cognitive functions after 6 years follow-up and whether cataract surgery or first-time hearing aid use affected cognition. DESIGN: Hierarchical regression procedures were employed to determine whether sensory functioning was predictive of cognitive performance. SETTING: Maastricht University and the University Hospital Maastricht, the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: Older Dutch adults ( ! 55) enrolled in the Maastricht Aging Study (N 5 418). MEASUREMENTS: Visual and auditory acuity, the Visual Verbal Learning Test (VVLT), the Stroop Color Word Test (SCWT), the Concept Shifting Task (CST), the Verbal Fluency Test, and the Letter-Digit Substitution Test (LDST). RESULTS: A change in visual acuity was associated with change in most cognitive measures, including the total and recall scores of the VVLT, the mean score of the first two SCWT cards, the mean score of the first two CST cards and the LDST. In addition, a change in auditory acuity predicted change in memory performance (VVLT total and recall scores), and auditory acuity measured at baseline predicted change in the mean score of the first two SCWT cards and the LDST. CONCLUSION: The findings support the notion of a strong connection between sensory acuity in auditory and visual domains and cognitive performance measures, both from a cross-sectional and a longitudinal perspective. They also suggest that it is essential to screen older individuals in a clinical context for sensory functioning so that changes in visual or auditory acuity are not interpreted as changes in cognitive performance. J Am Geriatr Soc 53: 374-380, 2005.

visual field loss in progressing glaucoma is independently associated with a loss in both disease-specific and generic quality-of-life. It is important to prevent progression, both in early and in advanced glaucoma, especially in patients with inferior hemifield defects and severe defects in either eye.

To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of two minimally invasive glaucoma surgery implants with a subconjunctival drainage approach: the XEN45 Gel Stent â (Xen) implant and the PRESERFLO TM MicroShunt (MicroShunt). Methods: Retrospective comparative case series of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients with at least 6 months of follow-up after a MicroShunt or Xen implantation augmented with mitomycin C. Results: Forty-one eyes of 31 patients underwent Xen implantation, and 41 eyes of 33 patients, MicroShunt implantation. Baseline characteristics were similar, except for more combined surgeries with phacoemulsification in the Xen group (37% vs. 2%). Mean baseline IOP AE standard deviation dropped from 19.2 AE 4.4 to 13.8 AE 3.8 mmHg (n = 26) in the Xen group and from 20.1 AE 5.0 to 12.1 AE 3.5 (n = 14) in the MicroShunt group at 24 months of follow-up (p = 0.19, t-test). The number of IOP-lowering medications dropped from 2.5 AE 1.4 to 0.9 AE 1.2 in the Xen group and from 2.3 AE 1.5 to 0.7 AE 1.1 in the MicroShunt group. The probability of qualified success was 73% and 79% at 24 months of follow-up for the Xen and MicroShunt groups, respectively. Postoperative complications were usually mild and self-limiting. The number of bleb needling and secondary glaucoma surgery procedures was similar in both groups; however, in the Xen group more additional MicroPulse â transscleral cyclophotocoagulation procedures were performed. Conclusion: Xen Gel Stent and PreserFlo MicroShunt implantations achieved comparable results in POAG eyes in terms of IOP-lowering and surgical success, with a similar high safety profile.

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