Trabeculectomy with an active postoperative regimen: results and resource utilization

How Could Medical and Surgical Treatment Affect the Quality of Life in Glaucoma Patients? A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

To evaluate and compare the visual function and the quality of life (QoL) in glaucomatous patients treated with topical medical therapy (TMT) alone, canaloplasty (CP), or trabeculectomy (TB).

METHODS

A total of 291 eyes of 167 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or secondary pseudoexfoliative glaucoma in TMT or surgically treated with CP or TB were included. Eligibility criteria for surgical patients included not needing TMT after surgery. Each patient underwent a visual field assessment and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) optical coherence tomography and filled out the Glaucoma Symptoms Scale (GSS) questionnaire and the 25-Item National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (25-NEI-VFQ). Comparison between the QoL level of the three groups and its correlation with optic nerve's anatomical and functional status was the primary outcome.

RESULTS

CP patients reported the best general vision (p = 0.01), a lower incidence of eye burning (p = 0.03), and the lowest annoyance level of non-visual symptoms (p = 0.006). QoL positively correlated with pRNFL thickness, whereas no correlation was found with visual field damage.

CONCLUSION

CP provides a better QoL when compared both to TB and TMT, regardless of glaucoma stage. pRNFL seems to provide additional information for predicting change in QoL.

Clinical practice preferences for glaucoma surgery in Japan: a survey of Japan Glaucoma Society specialists

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the surgical practice patterns of glaucoma management followed by glaucoma specialists in Japan.

METHODS

A survey was administered to 50 glaucoma specialists who were councilors in the Japan Glaucoma Society about surgical preferences and postoperative glaucoma care.

RESULTS

All 50 glaucoma specialists participated in the survey. Results show that, in 2019, compared to conventional trabeculotomy (4.6%), the frequency of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), combined with phacoemulsification, remarkably increased (79.0%) for non-operated eyes with mild open-angle glaucoma associated with cataract. Tube-shunt surgery was performed more often for open-angle glaucoma with previously twice failed trabeculectomy (65.8%) and neovascular glaucoma with previously once failed trabeculectomy (63.4%). In addition, during one year post-operatively, MIGS required less frequent follow-up visits compared to filtering surgery.

CONCLUSION

Although glaucoma specialists in the Japan Glaucoma Society usually prefer trabeculectomy, in the past decade they have selected tube-shunt surgery more often to treat refractory glaucoma. MIGS is increasing remarkably as the choice primary glaucoma surgery.

Quality of life following glaucoma surgery: canaloplasty versus trabeculectomy

Purpose

To evaluate quality of life (QoL) with a new questionnaire after canaloplasty (CP) and trabeculectomy (TE).

Patients and methods

We assessed outcomes of surgery, rate of revision surgeries, patients’ mood, and influence of postoperative care on QoL, surgery interference with daily activities, and postsurgical complaints. Patients completed the QoL questionnaire 24 months after surgery.

Results

Patients who underwent CP (n=175) were compared to TE patients (n=152). In the CP group, 57% of patients expressed high satisfaction, while 41% of patients in the TE group said they were highly satisfied. The satisfaction difference was statistically significant (P=0.034). Significantly fewer second surgeries were needed after CP (8% CP versus 35% TE, P<0.001). Patients were more positive in the CP group (54% CP versus 37% TE, P<0.009). Stress related to postoperative care was lower in the CP group compared to the TE group (14% versus 46%). Difficulties with activities of daily living, such as reading, were much lower or even nonexistent after CP, and complaints like eye burning or stinging were significantly lower in the CP group.

Conclusions

Compared with TE, CP is associated with less QoL impairment and higher patient satisfaction after surgery. However, long-term data on intraocular pressure reduction after surgery are needed to confirm long-term patient satisfaction with this surgery.

Intraindividual comparison of Canaloplasty versus trabeculectomy with mitomycin C in a single-surgeon series

PURPOSE

To compare the safety, efficacy, and postoperative management of canaloplasty in one eye versus trabeculectomy with mitomycin C in the contralateral eye in patients with open-angle glaucoma.

METHODS

This study was a consecutive case series of 30 eyes of 15 patients who had prior trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (group II) and later were treated with canaloplasty (group I) in the fellow eye. Primary outcome measures included intraocular pressure (IOP) and glaucoma medication after 6- and 12-month follow-up. Secondary outcome measures were number of postoperative interventions, hospitalization, and follow-up visits.

RESULTS

Mean preoperative IOP±SD was 26.73±6.4 mm Hg in group I and 26.3±10.9 mm Hg in group II (P=0.9), which decreased to 13.21±2.83 mm Hg for canaloplasty (P<0.0001) and 11.64±5.2 mm Hg for trabeculectomy (P<0.0005) including 3 patients with hypotony at 12 months. Glaucoma medication decreased from 2.5 in group I and 2.7 in group II to no medication in group I and 0.36±0.74 supplemental medication in group II 12 months postoperatively (P<0.0001). Best corrected visual acuity (±SD) was logMAR 0.06±0.09 (group I) and 0.28±0.56 (group II) before and logMAR 0.07±0.09 (group I) and 0.31±0.58 (group II) after surgery. In group I, 2 interventions were necessary. In group II, 8 eyes needed 112 interventions for filtering bleb management. Although canaloplasty took significantly longer to perform, trabeculectomy group required a longer initial postoperative hospitalization (mean 10.4 vs. 5.4 d, P<0.0001) and more postoperative follow-up visits (mean 3.9 vs. 8.5, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Canaloplasty and trabeculectomy were both effective in lowering IOP. However, less follow-up visits and significantly fewer complications and interventions were favorable for canaloplasty.

Comparison of resource utilization in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma between two cities in Finland: is more better?

INTRODUCTION

Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy associated with neural rim loss of the optic disc and the retinal nerve fibre layer typically causing visual field (VF) deterioration. Generally, glaucomatous lesions in the eye and in the visual field progress slowly over the years. In population-based cross-sectional studies, the percentage of unilateral or bilateral visual impairment varied between 3-12%. In screening studies, 0.03-2.4% of patients have been found to suffer visual impairment. Glaucoma has previously been associated with substantial healthcare costs and resource consumption attributable to the treatment of the disease. The disease also causes reduction in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with glaucoma.

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS

This study compares patients with diagnosed open-angle glaucoma from two geographically different regions in Finland. A total of 168 patients were examined, 85 subjects from an area with higher per patient treatment costs (Oulu) and 83 patients from a region with lower per patient treatment costs (Turku). All patients had a history of continuous glaucoma medication use for a period of 11 years. For each patient, the total direct costs from glaucoma treatment were calculated and the total amount of resource consumption was determined from registries and patient records. Each patient underwent a clinical examination with visual field assessment and fundus photography. These data were used to determine the current stage of disease for each patient. Health-related quality of life questionnaire (15D) was used in determining each patient's subjective HRQoL score.

RESULTS

When applying the current diagnostic criteria for open-angle glaucoma, a total of 40% of patients did not to display any structural or functional damage suggesting glaucoma after 11 years of continuous medical treatment and follow-up. Patients with higher glaucoma stage (worse disease) were found to have statistically higher treatment costs compared with those at lower disease stages. Resource consumption was also greater in the patients in higher glaucoma stage. Patients in the Oulu district consumed more resources, and glaucoma treatment was more expensive than in the Turku area. The total treatment cost in Oulu and Turku was 6010 € and 4452 €, respectively, for the whole 11-year period. There was no statistically significant difference in quality-of-life scores between the two areas. No difference was noted between the higher-spending and lower-spending areas in this respect. However, when the population was analysed as a whole, patients with higher glaucoma stage were found to have lower vision-based 15D scores compared with those at lower disease stages. This observation was made also at both districts independently.

CONCLUSIONS

Major cost source in open-angle glaucoma treatment is medication, up to 74% of annual costs. In addition, it seems that higher resource consumption and higher treatment costs do not increase the patients' HRQoL as assessed by the 15D instrument.

Three-year canaloplasty outcomes for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma: European study results

BACKGROUND

To report 3-year results investigating the safety and efficacy of canaloplasty, a procedure involving circumferential viscodilation of Schlemm's canal and tensioning of the inner canal wall to treat open-angle glaucoma.

METHODS

This was a prospective, multi-center, interventional study of 109 eyes of 109 adult, open-angle glaucoma patients undergoing canaloplasty or combined cataract-canaloplasty surgery. Qualifying preoperative intraocular pressures (IOP) were at least 16 mmHg with historical IOPs of at least 21 mmHg with or without medical therapy. A flexible microcatheter was used to viscodilate the full circumference of the canal and to place a trabecular tensioning suture. Primary outcome measures included IOP, glaucoma medication usage, and adverse events.

RESULTS

Eyes with canaloplasty showed a mean baseline IOP of 23.0 ± 4.3 mmHg and mean glaucoma medication usage of 1.9 ± 0.7 medications, which decreased to a mean IOP of 15.1 ± 3.1 mmHg on 0.9 ± 0.9 medications at 3 years postoperatively. Eyes with combined cataract-canaloplasty surgery showed a mean baseline IOP of 24.3 ± 6.0 mmHg on 1.5 ± 1.2 medications, which decreased to a mean IOP of 13.8 ± 3.2 mmHg on 0.5 ± 0.7 medications at 3 years. Intraocular pressure and medication use results for all study eyes were significantly decreased from baseline (p <0.00001) at all intervals. Late postoperative complications included cataracts (19.1%) and transient IOP elevation (1.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

Canaloplasty demonstrated significant and sustained IOP reductions accompanied by an excellent short- and long-term safety profile in adult patients with open-angle glaucoma.

Trabeculectomy with OloGen versus trabeculectomy for the treatment of glaucoma: a pilot study

PURPOSE

To present the preliminary results of our study comparing the outcomes of trabeculectomy with or without OloGen implant in patients requiring glaucoma surgery for uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP).

METHODS

Forty eyes of 40 patients were assigned randomly to undergo trabeculectomy either with OloGen implant (study group) or without implant (control group). Preoperative data included age, gender, type of glaucoma, IOP and number of preoperative glaucoma medications. Postoperative IOP, number of postoperative glaucoma medications and postoperative complications were recorded. Each patient was followed up for at least 6 months.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of age, gender, type of glaucoma, preoperative IOP and number of antiglaucoma medications. Mean IOPs for both groups were significantly lower than preoperative levels at all intervals (P < 0.05) The number of glaucoma medications used dropped from a preoperative mean of 3.5 +/- 0.7 to a 6-month postoperative mean of 0.3 +/- 0.7 (P < 0.001) in the study group and from 3.7 +/- 0.4 to 0.5 +/- 1.1 (P < 0.001) in the control group. No statistically significant differences between the two groups were observed in terms of postoperative complications.

CONCLUSION

In this pilot study it appears that trabeculectomy with OloGen does not seem to offer any significant advantages compared with trabeculectomy alone. Additionally, even though there were no statistical differences between the two groups as far as complications were concerned, one eye from the study group developed endophthalmitis 10 days after surgery and two eyes presented with positive Seidel test and flat anterior chamber and required additional suturing. Studies with larger numbers of patients and longer follow-ups are required to confirm these findings and to examine the safety and long-term outcomes of trabeculectomy with OloGen.