Postfiltration Hypotony Maculopathy in Young Chinese Myopic Women With Glaucomatous Appearing Optic Neuropathy

Complications of XEN gel stent implantation for the treatment of glaucoma: a systematic review

Aim

This study was aimed to summarize the complications and their management associated with XEN gel stent implantation.

Methods

A systematic review of literature was conducted using Medline (via PubMed), EMBASE, the Cochrane Library databases, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure, from their inception to February 1, 2024.

Results

A total of 48 studies published between 2017 and 2024 were identified and included in the systematic review, including 16 original studies (retrospective or prospective clinical studies), 28 case reports, and 4 case series, which followed patients for up to 5 years. Early postoperative complications of XEN gel stent implantation include hypotony maculopathy (1.9-4.6%), occlusion (3.9-8.8%), suprachoroidal hemorrhage (SCH), choroidal detachment (0-15%), conjunctival erosion, and exposure of the XEN gel stent (1.1-2.3%), wound and bleb leaks (2.1%) and malignant glaucoma (MG) (2.2%). Mid-postoperative complications of XEN gel stent implantation included migration of XEN (1.5%), ptosis (1.2%), endophthalmitis (0.4-3%), macular edema (1.5-4.3%), hypertrophic bleb (8.8%) and subconjunctival XEN gel stent fragmentation (reported in 2 cases). Late postoperative complications reported in cases included spontaneous dislocation and intraocular degradation.

Conclusion

XEN gel stent implantation is a minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) procedure for glaucoma, known for its potential to minimize tissue damage and reduce surgical duration. However, it is crucial to note that despite these advantages, there remains a risk of severe complications, including endophthalmitis, SCH, and MG. Therefore, postoperative follow-up and early recognition of severe complications are essential for surgical management.

Bleb Compressive Sutures in the Management of Hypotony Maculopathy after Glaucoma Surgery

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy and safety of compressive sutures in patients with hypotony maculopathy after glaucoma surgery.

METHODS

This retrospective case series analyzes the clinical outcomes of conjunctival compressive sutures in 17 patients with hypotony maculopathy developed after glaucoma surgery. Compressive Nylon 10-0 single sutures were used in all patients; in two patients, the procedure was repeated. All patients underwent ophthalmic evaluation and macular OCT scanning before the surgery, one month, six months, and one year after the procedure.

RESULTS

Mean intraocular pressure (IOP) before suturing was 2.3 ± 1.57 mmHg and increased to 14.2 ± 7.03 mmHg (p = 0.00065) one month after the procedure. After six months, mean IOP was 10.2 ± 4.3 mmHg (p = 0.005), and after one year ± 4.7 mmHg (p = 0.0117). To obtain the target pressure, the sutures had to be removed in one patient, and medical therapy was undertaken in three patients. Mean decimal best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) before the sutures was 0.18 ± 0.13 and increased to 0.53 ± 0.25 (p = 0.0004) after one month, to 0.46 ± 0.31 (p = 0.005) after six months, and to 0.31 ± 0.22 (p = 0.025) after one year. In one case, leakage from the bleb was observed after the procedure and bleb revision was required.

CONCLUSIONS

transconjuctival compressive sutures seem to be an efficient and safe technique for managing hypotony maculopathy after glaucoma surgery.

Persistent Hypotony and Annular Ciliochoroidal Detachment After Microhook Ab Interno Trabeculotomy

PRéCIS:: Creation of a cyclodialysis cleft can be a mechanism of ciliochoroidal detachment (CCD) and associated persistent hypotony after microhook ab interno trabeculotomy (μLOT).

AIMS

To report persistent hypotony after μLOT, a minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This observational case series included 4 consecutive cases (3 men, 1 woman; mean age, 48.8±15.1 y) of persistent hypotony that developed after μLOT between May 2015 and March 2018. The patients' data and surgical results were obtained from the medical charts.

RESULTS

All patients had open-angle glaucoma (2 juvenile, 1 primary, and 1 pigmentary) and were myopic (axial lengths, >24 mm). Two patients had undergone previous refractive surgery. μLOT alone was performed in 2 cases and combined with cataract surgery in 2 cases. In all cases, hypotony below 5 mm Hg was recorded 1 day postoperatively and sustained. In all cases, ultrasound biomicroscopy showed an annular CCD; communication between the anterior chamber and suprachoroidal space was detected in 3 of 4 cases. The hypotony resolved in 3 of the 4 cases from 2 to 8 months postoperatively, that is, spontaneously in 2 cases (cases 1 and 4) and after sulfur hexafluoride gas injection into the anterior chamber in 1 case (case 2). CCD resolution accompanied remarkedly high intraocular pressure, which required filtration surgeries. The incidence of persistent hypotony was 0.7% (4/547 eyes).

CONCLUSIONS

After MIGS, persistent hypotony because of CCD rarely occurs. Increased uveoscleral outflow because of LOT or creation of a cyclodialysis cleft by traction of the pectinate ligament can be a mechanism of CCD development. Young age and myopia can be risks for cyclodialysis cleft formation and hypotony maculopathy after MIGS.

Does Chronic Hypotony following Trabeculectomy Represent Treatment Failure?

Purpose: To measure the rate of complications from chronic hypotony following trabeculectomy and clarify the definition of postoperative hypotony.

Materials and methods: In this retrospective case-control study, the rate of complications was compared between 34 eyes with chronic hypotony and 34 eyes without hypotony. Chronic hypotony was defined as those eyes with an intraocular pressure (IOP) of less than 6 mm Hg on two consecutive clinic visits at least 3 months after trabeculectomy. Cases were identified from a database of two glaucoma surgeons between 2010 and 2013. Outcomes measured included visual acuity, presence of choroidal effusion, hypotensive maculopathy and cataract development/progression. Factors associated with the development of hypotony were considered using analysis of variance (ANOVA) multivariate regression.

Results: Maculopathy was seen in 23.5% of hypotony eyes but not in controls (p < 0.01). No significant difference in the rate of choroidal effusion or cataract was documented between groups. Control eyes were more likely to remain complication free (58.8 vs 32.4%, p < 0.03). Spontaneous recovery from hypotony occurred in 32.4% of hypotony eyes.

Conclusion: Sight threatening complications occur more frequently in eyes with chronic hypotony following glaucoma surgery. However, not all eyes with chronic hypotony develop sight threatening complications. A definition of hypotony that combines IOP criteria with the presence of structural and/or functional changes is recommended.

How to cite this article: Yun S, Chua B, I Clement C. Does Chronic Hypotony following Trabeculectomy Represent Treatment Failure? J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2015;9(1):12-15.

Myopia and glaucoma: diagnostic and therapeutic challenges

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

There is strong epidemiologic evidence linking myopia with glaucomatous disease, but a myopic optic nerve can pose significant challenges with regard to making the correct diagnosis of glaucoma. This review provides an overview of these diagnostic and therapeutic challenges with a particular focus on how the growing prevalence of myopia among specific populations may impact such therapy.

RECENT FINDINGS

For a given individual, the link between myopia and glaucoma remains murky in many circumstances, largely because of the fact that it is difficult to separate out myopia-related structural and functional abnormalities from 'true' glaucomatous changes. Using optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging, myopia has been found to be associated with temporal displacement and thinning of the superior and inferior nerve fiber layer bundles. In particular, sequential generations of 'Asian' ethnicities have been noted to demonstrate increasing rates of high myopia at earlier ages, sometimes with associated visual field defects at normal intraocular pressures. As is the case with any progressive condition, it is often not possible to distinguish glaucomatous from nonglaucomatous disease based on a single examination, and thus follow-up with OCT or perimetry from an established baseline is useful.

SUMMARY

Although myopia is a known risk factor for glaucoma, it may also result in structural and functional defects that cannot be distinguished from those caused by glaucoma based solely on cross-sectional information. Longitudinal observation may be necessary to distinguish among the multiple effects of myopia on the optic nerve and the natural history of glaucoma, which may vary substantially amongst those who are affected.

Characteristics of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in eyes with myopic optic disc tilt and rotation

PURPOSE

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of myopic optic disc tilt and rotation on peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness characteristics measured by Cirrus HD spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (Cirrus HD OCT).

METHODS

A total of 93 right eyes from 93 healthy young male individuals with myopia underwent ophthalmic examinations, including refractive error, axial length, and optic disc area measurements. The superior/inferior peak locations, RNFL thickness, and horizontal/vertical optic disc tilt were evaluated using the Cirrus HD OCT. The optic disc rotation was assessed by the angle between the long axis of the optic disc and the vertical meridian. The patients were divided into the tilted group and the non-tilted group; the tilted group was further divided into the rotated group and the nonrotated group.

RESULTS

The eyes in the tilted group (n=47) had a greater axial length and thicker temporal RNFL and more temporally positioned superior/inferior peak locations than the non-tilted group (n=46) (all P <0.05). Among the eyes in the tilted group, the eyes in the rotated group (n=23) had a thicker temporal RNFL and a more temporally positioned superior peak location than the eyes in the nonrotated group (n=24) (all P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The eyes with a myopic temporal optic disc tilt and counterclockwise rotation had a thicker temporal RNFL and more temporally positioned superior peak location. The characteristics of the RNFL thickness in eyes with myopic optic disc tilt and rotation should be considered when interpreting the RNFL thickness measured by the Cirrus HD OCT.