Trabéculo-sclérectomie non perforante avec mitomycine C, sans implant

PURPOSE

Since 1998 we have been conducting a prospective study of nonpenetrating deep trabeculectomy with chronic open-angle glaucoma to evaluate the efficiency of the technique.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was carried out in 55 eyes of 41 patients who suffered from open-angle glaucoma. After performing a superior scleral flap, mitomycin diluted to 0.01% was applied for 3 minutes, then the 4 x 4-mm superficial scleral flap was dissected at two-thirds deepness until reaching the cornea. The Schlemm canal and the external trabecula were surgically removed and the two points of the Schlemm canal were catheterized with a trabeculotome to ensure that the ablation was well done. If it was not, it was completed by using a trabeculotome as a guide. Postoperatively, if the filtering bleb tended to decrease or ocular pressure began to increase, the operated trabecular region was reopened with Yag laser. The filtering bleb characteristics were correlated with the normalization of intraocular pressure in the first 30 cases.

RESULTS

Preoperative pressure without treatment was 32 mmHg. Postoperative intraocular pressure without treatment was 20 mmHg or less in 79% of the eyes after 4 months, 77.5% after 6 months, 75% after 8 months and 61% after 12 months. By adding a local hypotension treatment in monotherapy, a pressure of 20 mmHg or less was obtained in 79% of the cases after 12 months. No severe complications were observed. The presence of a filtering bleb is an important factor in the normalization of postoperative pressure (p=0.0048).

CONCLUSIONS

This surgical technique provides a substantial decrease in intraocular pressure and very few complications after 12 months of follow-up.

Comparison of long-term outcomes of selective laser trabeculoplasty versus argon laser trabeculoplasty in open-angle glaucoma

PURPOSE

To compare the long-term success rate of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) versus argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT).

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred ninety-five eyes of 195 patients with uncontrolled open-angle glaucoma (OAG), of which 154 eyes underwent ALT and 41 eyes underwent SLT and were followed up for a maximum of 5 years.

INTERVENTION

The SLT patients were treated with the frequency-doubled q-switched neodymium:yytrium-aluminum-garnet laser (532 nm). Approximately 50 to 55 nonoverlapping spots were placed over 180 degrees of the trabecular meshwork at energy levels ranging from 0.6 to 1.0 mJ per pulse. The ALT patients were treated with the argon blue-green laser with between 45 to 55 adjacent, nonoverlapping spots over 180 degrees of the trabecular meshwork at 470 to 1150 mW of energy per pulse.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The success rates were defined by criterion I and criterion II. Success by criterion I was defined as a decrease in intraocular pressure (IOP) of 3 mmHg or more with no additional medications, laser, or glaucoma surgery. Criterion II had the same requirements as criterion I, except that a 20% or more IOP reduction was required for success.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up time was 37.4+/-14.7 months for patients in the SLT group and 33.6+/-17.0 months for patients in the ALT group. The long-term success rate was not significantly different between the ALT and SLT groups by either criterion (Kaplan-Meier survival analysis log-rank P = 0.20 by criterion I and P = 0.12 by criterion II). When comparing patients with and without previous ALT, there was not a statistically significant difference in the patients treated with SLT by either criterion (log-rank P = 0.37 by criterion I and P = 0.39 by criterion II).

CONCLUSIONS

In eyes with primary OAG that are receiving maximally tolerated medical therapy, SLT was found to be as effective as ALT in lowering IOP over a 5-year period. However, long-term data reveal that many of the glaucoma patients treated with SLT and ALT required further medical or surgical intervention. Whether SLT has better long-term success than ALT in repeat laser trabeculoplasty treatments remains unclear.

Foldable acrylic versus rigid polymethylmethacrylate intraocular lens in combined phacoemulsification and trabeculectomy

BACKGROUND

Combined trabeculectomy and phacoemulsification is a widely accepted option in treating patients with glaucoma who also have cataracts. Implantation of a foldable intraocular lens (IOL) in cataract surgery has several theoretical advantages. We performed a study to determine the results of combined phacoemulsification and trabeculectomy with mitomycin C and implantation of either a foldable acrylic or rigid polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) IOL.

METHODS

Review of the charts of 58 consecutive patients (60 eyes) who underwent combined phacotrabeculectomy for concomitant cataract and glaucoma at a university-affiliated hospital in Montreal between September 2001 and December 2002. Forty-one eyes received a foldable acrylic lens (3.2-mm-wide incision), and 19 eyes received a rigid PMMA lens (5.2-mm-wide incision). Outcome measures included visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP) and postoperative complications. The results in the two groups were compared.

RESULTS

There were no differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups. Earlier recovery of visual acuity was noted in the foldable IOL group than in the rigid IOL group (p = 0.013 for the difference at day 7). IOP control was similar in the two groups, as was the incidence of IOP spikes in the early postoperative period.

INTERPRETATION

The results suggest that combined phacotrabeculectomy with mitomycin C using a foldable acrylic IOL allows for good postoperative IOP control and earlier visual recovery than the same procedure with insertion of a rigid PMMA lens.

Primary viscocanalostomy versus trabeculectomy for primary open-angle glaucoma

PURPOSE

To compare the efficacy and safety of viscocanalostomy and trabeculectomy in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

SETTING

Department of Ophthalmology, Ankara Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.

METHODS

In this prospective randomized trial, 50 eyes of 50 patients with medically uncontrolled POAG were randomized to have a trabeculectomy (25 eyes) or a viscocanalostomy (25 eyes). Visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), and slitlamp examinations were performed before surgery and 1 day, 1 week, 1, 3, and 6 months, and 1, 2, and 3 years postoperatively.

RESULTS

At 3 years, the mean IOP was 16.0 mmHg +/- 7.07 (SD) in the trabeculectomy group and 17.8 +/- 4.6 mmHg in the viscocanalostomy group (P=.694). Complete success (IOP 6 to 21 mm Hg without medication) was achieved in 66.2% of eyes at 6 months and 55.1% at 3 years in the trabeculectomy group and in 52.9% and 35.3%, respectively, in the viscocanalostomy group (P>.05). Qualified success (IOP 6 to 21 mmHg with medication) was achieved in 95.8% of eyes at 6 months and 79.2% at 3 years in the trabeculectomy group and in 90.7% and 73.9%, respectively, in the viscocanalostomy group (P>.05). Postoperative hypotony and cataract formation occurred more frequently in the trabeculectomy group than in the viscocanalostomy group (P=.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Primary trabeculectomy lowered IOP more than viscocanalostomy in POAG patients. However, the complication rate was lower in the viscocanalostomy group.

Effects of matrix metalloproteinase-3 gene transfer by electroporation in glaucoma filter surgery

To develop gene therapy that can be applied to glaucoma-filtering surgery, we studied effects of transfection of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) cDNA into rabbit conjunctiva by electroporation (EP) on changes of intraocular pressure (IOP) and bleb formation after glaucoma filtering surgery. pTracer-CMV2 vector containing MMP-3 cDNA was transfected into rabbit conjunctiva by EP and MMP-3 expression was studied by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, zymography and western blot analysis. Three days after the EP transfection of MMP-3 cDNA or vector alone into rabbit conjunctiva, trabeculectomy was performed at the place of transfection in the presence or absence of 0.04% mitomycin C (MMC). Then changes in IOPs and bleb formation were compared with each other. Expression of MMP-3 was detected in conjunctiva until 30 days after transfection by EP. Trabeculectomy following MMP-3 transfection caused significantly longer survival of filtering bleb and decreased levels of IOP in comparison with controls (trabeculectomy alone or trabeculectomy following vector transfection), and these levels were almost identical to those of trabeculectomy with MMC. The present study indicates that EP is effective to transfect some genes that promote the filtering bleb formation in glaucoma surgery, such as MMP-3 gene, and this may be potentially applicable to glaucoma-filtering surgery in glaucoma patients.

Does the site of filtration influence the medium to long term intraocular pressure control following microtrabeculectomy in low risk eyes?

AIMS

To evaluate the influence of varying surgical site on the medium to long term intraocular pressure (IOP) control in patients undergoing unenhanced small flap trabeculectomy (microtrabeculectomy) in eyes at low risk of failure.

METHODS

A retrospective non-concurrent analysis was performed on two cohorts of patients who underwent unenhanced microtrabeculectomy at different sites by a single surgeon (SAV). The first cohort of eyes was part of a trial to study the astigmatic effect of microtrabeculectomy (results published elsewhere) and all had flaps centred at the 12 o'clock meridian (superior flaps). The second cohort consisted of eyes with flaps created on either side of the 12 o'clock-that is, superonasal in left eyes and superotemporal in right eyes. All case notes were reviewed for the preoperative and presenting IOPs, the number and duration of antiglaucoma medication use preoperatively and, postoperatively, any intraoperative, early, or late postoperative complications. All IOPs measured at 6 months and then yearly intervals were recorded. The baseline characteristics and IOPs at each follow up were compared between the eyes with the superonasal and superotemporal flaps of the non-12 o'clock group against those with superior flaps in the 12 o'clock group up to a maximum of 72 months. Survival was assessed by the site of microtrabeculectomy, with failure considered as any IOP above 22 and 15 mm Hg with or without medications.

RESULTS

All patients had a minimum follow up of 12 months and 12/17 patients in the 12 o'clock group and 17/28 in the non-12 o'clock group completed the full follow up of 72 months. The IOPs at all points in time were lower in the left eyes with superonasal flaps compared to both the superior and the superotemporal groups. This difference was statistically significant between the three groups to the end of 4 years (p = 0.001) and remains clinically significant thereafter with the mean last recorded IOPs of 15.9, 12.4 (p = 0.03), and 14.3 mm Hg in the superior, superonasal and superotemporal groups respectively, with a smaller mean number of drops in the non-12 o'clock group. Kaplan-Meier curves showed a significantly better outcome for the cutoff IOP of 15 mm Hg in the superonasal group (p = 0.003) compared with both the other groups.

CONCLUSION

Eyes with superonasal flaps achieve and maintain lower IOPs when compared with both the superior and superotemporal flaps. The results suggest that, when a low target IOP is desired, the site of surgery in an unenhanced filtering procedure should be superonasally sited.

A randomised, prospective study comparing trabeculectomy with viscocanalostomy with adjunctive antimetabolite usage for the management of open angle glaucoma uncontrolled by medical therapy

AIMS

To compare trabeculectomy with viscocanalostomy augmented with adjunctive antimetabolite use for the control of intraocular pressure (IOP) in open angle glaucoma (OAG).

METHODS

45 patients (50 eyes) with uncontrolled OAG were randomised to either trabeculectomy (25 eyes) or a viscocanalostomy technique (25 eyes). Preoperatively, all eyes were graded in terms of risk factors for drainage failure and were given intraoperative antimetabolites (5-fluorouracil 25 mg/ml (5-FU), mitomycin C (MMC) 0.2 mg/ml and 0.4 mg/ml) according to a standard protocol.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the groups in age, sex, type of OAG, preoperative medications, risk factors for drainage failure, and preoperative IOP. Mean follow up was 20 months (range 3-24 months). It was 12 months or longer in all eyes, except two lost to follow up at 3 months. At 12 months, complete success (IOP<21 mm Hg without antiglaucoma medications) was seen in 91% of eyes undergoing trabeculectomy, but in only 60% of eyes undergoing viscocanalostomy (p<0.02). Similarly, at the last follow up visit (mean 20 months) complete success was seen in 68% of eyes undergoing trabeculectomy and 34% with viscocanalostomy (p<0.05). In terms of qualified success (IOP<21 mm Hg with or without glaucoma medications) and mean IOP measurements postoperatively there were no difference between the groups, although the mean number of antiglaucomatous medications required postoperatively was less with trabeculectomy (0.39) than viscocanalostomy (1.04) (p<0.05). Needling procedures were more commonly required after trabeculectomy (p<0.02). YAG goniotomy was required in three eyes (13%) after viscocanalostomy. Early transient complications such as anterior chamber shallowing and encysted blebs were more common in the trabeculectomy group (p<0.05). Late postoperative cataract formation was similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

In terms of complete success and number of antiglaucomatous medications required postoperatively, IOP control appears to be better with trabeculectomy. Viscocanalostomy is associated with fewer early transient postoperative complications.

Prospective study comparing lidocaine 2% jelly versus sub-Tenon's anaesthesia for trabeculectomy surgery

AIMS

To compare the analgesic properties of lidocaine 2% jelly versus sub-Tenon's anaesthesia with lidocaine 2% without adrenaline (epinephrine) for trabeculectomy surgery.

METHODS

A prospective randomised clinical trial. 59 consecutive patients scheduled for trabeculectomy at the Toronto Western Hospital were randomly assigned to topical unpreserved lidocaine 2% jelly or sub-Tenon's anaesthesia with 2% lidocaine. Both groups received a standardised sedative consisting of midazolam, fentanyl. and/or propofol. The visual analogue scale was utilised to measure intraoperative pain. Patient comfort, physician assessment of intraoperative patient compliance, volume of local anaesthetic used, need for supplemental anaesthesia, and any complications were recorded. The two groups were compared using the Student's t test.

RESULTS

The sub-Tenon's anaesthesia group and the lidocaine 2% jelly group did not vary significantly in subjective pain score (18.3 (SD 16.2) v 19.8 (12.4) respectively, p = 0.739) and surgeons' satisfaction scale (3.6 (0.7) and 3.8 (0.6) respectively, p = 0.328). Four patients required additional anaesthesia, all of them in the sub-Tenon's group.

CONCLUSION

Topical lidocaine 2% jelly is as effective as sub-Tenon's anaesthesia for pain control in patients undergoing trabeculectomy. Lidocaine 2% jelly is similar to sub-Tenon's anaesthesia in patient comfort and surgeon satisfaction.

Long-term Outcome of Trabeculotomy for the Treatment of DevelopmentalGlaucoma

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate long-term outcome of trabeculotomy in primary and secondary developmental glaucoma.

METHODS

One hundred forty-nine eyes of 89 patients with developmental glaucoma who underwent trabeculotomy were retrospectively studied. Intraocular pressure (IOP), success probabilities, visual acuities, and visual field were determined during follow-up and at the final visit.

RESULTS

The mean +/- SD IOP of 112 eyes with primary developmental glaucoma at the final visit with an mean +/- SD follow-up period of 9.5 +/- 7.1 years was 15.6 +/- 5.0 mm Hg. The average IOP for 37 eyes with secondary developmental glaucoma was 16.7 +/- 4.2 mm Hg. One hundred eyes (89.3%) with primary developmental glaucoma were defined as achieving success at the final visit. Complete and qualified successes were achieved in 71 eyes (63.4%) and 29 eyes (25.9%), respectively. Visual acuities were 20/40 or better in 78 (59.5%) of 131 eyes examined and were poorer than 20/200 in 32 eyes (24.4%). The causes of poor visual acuities were mainly progression of glaucoma, including delay of detection of onset or surgery and amblyopia. Eyes with glaucoma that existed before 2 months of age or eyes that needed several trabeculotomies were considered to have poor visual acuity. Visual fields were classified as normal or almost normal in 21 (44.7%) of 47 eyes.

CONCLUSIONS

Trabeculotomy for developmental glaucoma is effective over a long time. There is a fairly good prognosis for visual function of eyes with developmental glaucoma with early detection of the onset, proper treatment, and proper management after trabeculotomy.

Trabeculectomy--a review and 2 year follow up

This study reviewed the trabeculectomies (TEs) carried out in University Malaya Medical Center between 1994 to 1998. One hundred and nine of 132 eyes operated were in the primary glaucoma group of which 63 (47.7%) were of the open angle type and 46 (34.8%) were of the angle closure type. Twenty-three eyes belong to the secondary glaucoma group. Sixty-five eyes had plain or non-augmented trabeculectomy (TE) while 20 were augmented with mitomycin C (MMC) and 11 with 5 flourouracil (5FU). In 31 eyes the plain TEs were combined with extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) and 4 with phacoemusification. One case had combined ECCE and augmented trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C. The patients were followed up at 1 month, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years. Ninety-four of 132 (71.2%) eyes had successful surgery with intraocular pressure (IOP) of less than 21 mmHg (tonometric success) at the end of 2 years. Four of these patients needed topical medication for the IOP control. More failures were seen in patients with cystic blebs than those with diffuse blebs. Complications include hypotony, shallow anterior chamber, cataracts and hyphaema. The majority of cases (53%) had no complications.

Phacotrabeculectomy in Treatment of Primary Angle-closure Glaucoma and Primary Open-angle Glaucoma

PURPOSE

To evaluate the surgical outcome of combined phacoemulsification, posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation, and trabeculectomy (phacotrabeculectomy) in patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) or primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

METHODS

The records of 57 consecutive patients (65 eyes) with PACG or POAG that were treated with phacotrabeculectomy were reviewed retrospectively. There were 31 eyes with PACG and 34 with POAG. The mean follow-up period was 21.0 +/- 8.3 months. The visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), number of medications, and complications were evaluated.

RESULTS

The mean IOP and the number of glaucoma medications decreased significantly after phacotrabeculectomy in both groups. The mean IOP reduction was significantly greater in eyes with PACG (P < 0.05). The absolute success rates were 87.1% and 70.6% in PACG and POAG, respectively. The difference in the success rates was not significant (P = 0.297). The early postoperative complication rates were similar in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Phacotrabeculectomy results in greater IOP reduction in eyes with PACG than in those with POAG, but the overall success rates were not significantly different.

Milling trabeculoplasty for nonpenetrating glaucoma surgery

PURPOSE

To describe the use of a motorized milling drill to perform nonpenetrating glaucoma surgery and to assess its safety.

SETTING

Instituto Oftalmológico de Alicante, Miguel Hernandez University, School of Medicine, Alicante, Spain.

METHODS

This prospective noncomparative study included 16 eyes (13 patients) diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma. The eyes were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 (8 eyes) had a milling procedure, and Group 2 (8 eyes) had combined phacoemulsification and milling. A fornix-based conjunctival flap was created, and then the milling procedure was performed using a notched hemispherical metallic tip. Evolution of intraocular pressure (IOP), visual outcomes, and the development of intraoperative and postoperative complications were evaluated.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 67.9 years +/- 10.9 (SD) (range 50 to 80 years). In Group 1, the mean IOP preoperatively was 27.6 +/- 10.1 mm Hg (range 18 to 50 mm Hg) and after 6 months, 15.8 +/- 5.2 mm Hg (range 12 to 24 mm Hg). The mean IOP reduction 6 months postoperatively was 15.4 +/- 10.6 mm Hg, a 55.7% decrease from preoperatively. In Group 2, the mean IOP preoperatively was 21.7 +/- 4.6 mm Hg (range 13 to 30 mm Hg), and after 6 months, 16.2 +/- 3.4 mm Hg (range 13 to 23 mm Hg). The mean reduction in IOP at 6 months was 5.5 +/- 2.8 mm Hg, a decrease of 25.3% from the preoperative value. In Group 1 at 6 months, 5 eyes (62.5%) had a diffuse filtering bleb and 3 (37.5%), localized filtration. In Group 2, 7 eyes (87.5%) had a diffuse filtering bleb and 1 (12.5%) had fibrosis of the bleb and reduction of filtration.

CONCLUSION

The motorized milling drill can be safely used to mill and refine the remaining scleral thickness, eliminating the rupture of trabeculo-Descemet's membrane.

Fornix vs limbus based flap in phacotrabeculetomy with mitomycin C: prospective study

AIM

To compare the efficacy and safety of fornix-based and limbus-based conjunctival flaps of phacotrabeculectomy with mitomycin C in patients with primary open angle glaucoma and cataract.

METHODS

The study included 16 patients (6 men and 10 women) with primary open angle glaucoma and bilateral cataract. In each patient, phacotrabeculectomy with mitomycin C was performed on both eyes: the eye first operated received a fornix-based conjunctival flap, whereas the fellow eye was assigned to the limbus-based group. We compared preoperative and postoperative visual acuity, intraocular pressure, number of antiglaucoma medications, and postoperative complications between flap-based and limbus-based groups.

RESULTS

There was no difference in the decrease in the mean intraocular pressure between the fornix-based and limbus-based groups after phacotrabeculectomy: from 22.1+/-4.4 mm Hg to 16.2+/-3.4 mm Hg in the fornix-based group, and from 22.4+/-4.5 mm Hg to 15.9+/-3.2 mm Hg in the limbus-based group. The two groups also did not differ in the number of medications received either before or after the surgery. Early bleb leak was observed only in the fornix-based group (2 eyes).

CONCLUSIONS

Phacotrabeculectomy with intraoperative mitomycin C was successful in regard to both reduction of intraocular pressure and glaucoma medications. There was no difference in the safety or efficacy of the procedure between groups receiving either fornix- or limbus-based flap, except for the early bleb leak, which was observed only in the fornix flap group.

Comparison between Results of Trabeculectomy in Primary Congenital Glaucoma with and without the Use of Mitomycin C

PURPOSE

To evaluate the results of trabeculectomy with and without the use of mitomycin C in children with primary congenital glaucoma.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively studied the data of 91 patients who underwent the first trabeculectomy for primary congenital glaucoma, with 19 years of follow-up. Success criteria were set with two distinct values of intraocular pressure: lower or equal to 15 mm Hg or lower than 21 mm Hg and separately analyzed.

RESULTS

Among the studied patients, 61 had undergone trabeculectomy without mitomycin C and 30 with mitomycin C. The comparison between the groups of patients showed age homogeneity (P = 0.152) and did not demonstrate any difference in preoperative (P = 0.234) and postoperative (P = 0.907) intraocular pressure. Success rates through time, for both pressure limits was not different between the groups. Both age and the presence of previous trabeculotomy did not influence the success of trabeculectomy through time, for the two pressure limits considered. The complication rate was higher among the patients who received mitomycin C (P = 0.010).

CONCLUSIONS

The success of trabeculectomy for primary congenital glaucoma with mitomycin C was not different than that of trabeculectomy with mitomycin C in the studied patients. Mitomycin C was associated with a higher incidence of complications.

Selective vs argon laser trabeculoplasty: hypotensive efficacy, anterior chamber inflammation, and postoperative pain

PURPOSE

To compare selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) with conventional argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) in terms of hypotensive efficacy, anterior chamber inflammation, and pain reported by the patients treated.

METHODS

A prospective study performed on 40 consecutive patients. Group I (n = 20): SLT 180 degrees. Group II (n = 20): ALT 180 degrees. Intraocular pressure, flare (Laser-Flare-Meter, Kowa FM-500, Japan), and pain (Visual Analogue Scale) were measured before treatment and 1 h, 24 h,1 week, and 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment. Statistically significant differences were determined by an independent-sample Student's t-test.

RESULTS

At 6 months after treatment, pressure reduction was similar in both groups: SLT 22.2% (range 0-36.3%) and ALT 19.5% (range 0-30.2%), P= 0.741. The energy released during treatment was significantly lower in SLT (48.3 SD 7.4 mJ) than in ALT (4321 SD 241.7 mJ), P < 0.001. At 1 h after treatment,anterior chamber flare was also lower in SLT(13.3 SD 6.3 vs 20.7 SD 7.4 photons/ms),P = 0.003. Pain reported by the patients during the treatment was significantly lower in SLT(2.0 SD 0.7 vs 4.3 SD 1.3), P<0.001.

CONCLUSIONS

The hypotensive efficacy of both lasers at the end of follow-up was similar. The energy released during treatment and inflammation produced in the anterior chamber in the immediate postoperative period were significantly lower for SLT. The SLT procedure was better tolerated, producing less discomfort during treatment than conventional trabeculoplasty with argon.

[Clinical observation of the combination of phacoemulsification and trabeculectomy]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the therapeutic effects of combined phacoemulsification and trabeculectomy surgery with intraocular lens implantation and compare the results of two different approaches.

METHODS

In a retrospective study, forty eyes of 35 cases cataract patients with primary open-angle or chronic angle-closure glaucoma were assigned to undergo either a single incision (single incision group, 15 eyes) or two-incision (double incision group, 25 eyes). best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), pre-and post-operation intraocular pressure (IOP), postoperative bleb formation and postoperative complications were analyzed and compared between the two procedures. All cases were followed up for over 12 months.

RESULTS

The mean IOP of 35 cases (40 eyes) in 12 months postoperatively was (14.35 +/- 3.03) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa), which was distinctly lower than that of preoperative [(35.76 +/- 4.39) mm Hg (t = 25.39, P < 0.001)]. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the mean IOP preoperation and 1 week, 1 month, 3, 6, 12 months postoperation. The postoperative BCVA was between 0.2 and 1.2, BCVA < 0.3 was found in three eyes (7.5%), and > or = 0.3 in 37 eyes (92.5%), BCVA was significantly improved in 4 eyes after surgery (chi(2) = 31.03, P < 0.001). There was no obviously difference in visual acuity between the two groups at one week, 3 months postoperatively (chi(2) = 0.22, and 0.05, P > 0.05), the type I or II bleb formation was detected in 35 eyes (87.5%). Post operation, among the eyes, 13 eyes were single-incision while 22 eyes with double-incision. No severe postoperative complications were revealed in all of operated cases.

CONCLUSIONS

The procedures of combined phacoemulsification with trabeculectomy is safe, effective surgery for cataract patients combined with glaucoma. There were no differences in IOP, BCVA developing, bleb formation in early stage postoperatively using either single-incision or double-incision.

Pseudoexfoliation syndrome and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma

BACKGROUND

Pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PXG) is a common secondary glaucoma that occurs when pigment and abnormal basement membrane material from anterior segment anatomical structures deposit in the trabecular meshwork. This anomaly arises from the predisposing condition, pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXE). Complications are common, making this one of the most difficult glaucomas to manage.

PURPOSE

The literature is reviewed in order to facilitate understanding of this condition.

[Clinical observation of combined surgery for cataract and glaucoma: phacoemulsification and viscocanalostomy]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the therapeutic effects and safety of phacoemulsification-intraocular lens (IOL) implantation combined with viscocanalostomy (V-P) and compared the outcomes of phacoemulsification-IOL implantation combined with trabeculectomy (T-P).

METHODS

Combined phacoemulsification with corneal incision, foldable intraocular lens implantation and viscocanalostomy was performed in 30 eyes of 28 cataract patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

RESULTS

Follow-up was performed up to 6 months after surgery. The mean intraocular pressure (IOP) of V-P group was (14.65 +/- 2.70) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) with a mean pressure reduction of 10.33 mm Hg compared with IOP before the operation (P = 0.000). There were no statistical differences of the IOP within two groups during postoperative 1 week, 1 and 6 month (P = 0.661, 0.381, 0.526). Postoperatively, the best corrected visual acuities of V-P group were > or = 0.5 in 18 eyes (follow-up 29 eyes, 62.1%), 20 eyes (28 eyes, 71.4%), 24 eyes (30 eyes, 80.0%) at 1 week, 1 month and 6 months, but no statistical difference with T-P group, (P = 0.621, 0.702, 0.893). Complications of V-P group included: Descemet's membrane puncture 2 eyes (6.7%), Schlemm's tube puncture 2 eyes (6.7%) and IOP spikes 4 eyes (13.3% at 24 hours postoperatively). The V-P group showed a significantly less inflammation, hyphema and choroidal detachment than that in the T-P group.

CONCLUSIONS

Phacoemulsification-IOL implantation combined with viscocanalostomy is a safe and efficacious surgery with lower complications.

The Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS): 13. Comparison of treatment outcomes within race: 10-year results

OBJECTIVE

To present for black and white patients with medically uncontrolled glaucoma 10-year results of treatment with 1 of 2 randomly assigned surgical intervention sequences.

DESIGN

Randomized clinical trial.

PARTICIPANTS

Three hundred thirty-two black patients (451 eyes) and 249 white patients (325 eyes). Eyes had glaucoma that could not be controlled with medications alone.

METHODS

Eyes were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 sequences: argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT)-trabeculectomy-trabeculectomy (ATT) or trabeculectomy-ALT-trabeculectomy (TAT). Second and third interventions were offered after failure of the preceding intervention. Minimum required intraocular pressure (IOP) for intervention failure ranged upward from 18 mmHg, the value depending on whether recent optic disc or visual field (VF) deterioration occurred, and on the magnitude of the field defect. Patients were observed every 6 months, with total potential follow-up ranging from 8 years, 4 months to 13 years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The averages over follow-up of (1) the percentage of eyes having moderate loss of VF and (2) the percentage of eyes having moderate loss of visual acuity (VA).

RESULTS

Race-treatment interactions in VF and VA loss are significant for the 2 main outcome measures; therefore, results of treatment sequence differences are presented by race. In black patients the average percent of eyes with VF loss was less in the ATT sequence than in the TAT sequence, a difference that is not statistically significant at any visit. In white patients, conversely, after 18 months the average percent of eyes with VF loss was less in the TAT sequence, a difference that increases and is statistically significant in years 8 to 10. In both black and white patients, the average percent of eyes with VA loss was less in the ATT sequence; this difference is statistically significant throughout 10 follow-up years in black patients and is statistically significant only for the first year in white patients. In both black and white patients, average IOP reductions were greater in the TAT sequence, though the TAT-ATT difference was substantially greater in white patients. In both black and white patients, first-intervention failure rates were substantially lower for trabeculectomy than for trabeculoplasty. Ten-year cumulative incidence of unilateral VF impairment comparable to legal blindness was modest in eyes of black (ATT 11.9%, TAT 18.5%) and white (ATT 9.9%, TAT 7.3%) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Although IOP was lowered in both sequences in black and white patients with medically uncontrolled glaucoma, long-term visual function outcomes were better for the ATT sequence in black patients and better for the TAT sequence in white patients.

Outcome of consecutive trabeculectomy

PURPOSE

To establish a criterion for success of primary phakic trabeculectomy in the second eye of the same patient, using the first operated eye as a predictor for the surgical outcome.

METHODS

The outcome of primary phakic trabeculectomy was retrospectively compared in both eyes of 23 patients. Sixteen patients were treated with antimetabolites and seven were not. Postoperative intraocular pressure and number of glaucoma medications in paired eyes of the same patients were compared. Surgical success was defined as postoperative IOP of <20 mmHg without medication. Bleb morphology and the number of glaucoma medications were also compared in both eyes.

RESULTS

There was a positive correlation between the two eyes of a patient in the IOP values at each postoperative time point in both groups (with and without antimetabolites) (P > 0.05). At the last follow-up visit after trabeculectomy, the number of glaucoma medications used in paired eyes were not significantly different (P > 0.83). Surgical failure occurred more often in paired eyes than in single eyes. Bilateral failure occurred in 60% (3/5) of the failed trabeculectomies with antimetabolites and in 100% (3/3) of the failed trabeculectomies without antimetabolites.

CONCLUSION

Trabeculectomy outcome in paired eyes of patients was similar in both antimetabolites treated and untreated eyes. Thus, trabeculectomy outcome in the first operated eye can predict the surgical result in the second eye of the same patient.