When Should We Give Up Filtration Surgery: Indications, Techniques and Results of Cyclodestruction

Safety and Efficacy of Isolated Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation in Pseudophakic Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma-12-Month Follow-Up

Background: We evaluated the safety and efficacy of endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) for eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods: We included a total of 104 pseudophakic eyes treated with ECP. Visual acuity and intraocular pressure (IOP, mmHg) measurements were evaluated preoperatively and on days 1 and 7 and 2 and 12 months postoperatively. IOP ≤ 15 or ≥30% reduction from baseline were defined as therapeutic success. Results: The mean baseline IOP was 23.89 ± 8.63, and it decreased significantly at the day 1 (16.25 ± 7.32, p < 0.0001), day 7 (17.81 ± 6.37, p < 0.0001), 2nd month (17.77 ± 8.54, p < 0.0001) and 12th month (16.42 ± 7.05, p < 0.0001) follow-up visits. Therapeutic success was achieved in 55 (61.80%) eyes at the 12-month follow-up. Patients with POAG duration longer than 10 years or those using alpha agonist eye drops had a lower rate of therapeutic success (odds ratio: 0.52, 95% CI = 0.32–0.85, p < 0.05 and odds ratio: 0.92, 95% CI = 0.55–0.95, p = 0.024, respectively). A longer disease course was associated with higher IOP values (Rs =+0.281; p = 0.024) postoperatively. The number of antiglaucoma medications decreased significantly from 2.55 ± 1.16 to 2.11 ± 1.14 (p = 0.003). The ECP complications included a minor IOP increase (9.37%), pupil irregularity (15.73%), and the presence of fibrin (3.29%). Conclusions: The ECP is an effective and safe option, especially in eyes with a shorter glaucoma course.

Design and Methodology of a Multi-Centre Clinical Trial of Low Dose Laser Cycloplasty for the Treatment of Malignant Glaucoma in China

PURPOSE

To summarize the design and methodology of a trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of low dose laser cycloplasty (LCP) in treating malignant glaucoma.

METHODS

Prospective, multicentre, non-controlled clinical trial. Subjects were recruited from eight ophthalmic centers in China. The target sample size was 34. Patients aged >18 years with a clinical diagnosis of malignant glaucoma inadequately controlled on medical therapy or malignant glaucoma recurrence after topical cycloplegics withdrawal were enrolled. All patients underwent LCP under retrobulbar anesthesia or sub-Tenon anesthesia. LCP is a treatment adopting few laser points (1100-2000 mW energy, 2000 milliseconds duration) that cauterizes and remodels the ciliary body over two clock hour-positions, which may relieve the ciliary ring block. Follow-up is planned for a period of 12 months. The primary outcome is the resolution of malignant glaucoma which is defined as central anterior chamber deepening after LCP.

CONCLUSION

The Malignant Glaucoma Treatment trial (MGTT) will be the first prospective trial providing evidence of a treatment for malignant glaucoma. It intends to provide clinicians an optional, easy and convenient treatment for malignant glaucoma patients. Detailed morphological and biometric information collected during the study period will also help provide experience for the outcomes of malignant glaucoma.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ChiCTR1800017960.

An update on continuous-wave cyclophotocoagulation (CW-CPC) and micropulse transscleral laser treatment (MP-TLT) for adult and paediatric refractory glaucoma

PURPOSE

Continuous-wave cyclophotocoagulation (CW-CPC) is often preferred to medical and surgical treatments for managing refractory glaucoma. This review summarizes diode CW-CPC indications, history, histopathology, methods, efficacy and safety. It also provides an overview of the latest data available on micropulse transscleral laser treatment (MP-TLT) that uses repetitive micropulses of diode laser energy in an off-and-on cyclical fashion.

METHODS

A literature review was conducted on transscleral CW-CPC (CW-TSCPC), endoscopic CPC (ECP) and MP-TLT. Relevant series of adult and paediatric patients were included for assessing the procedures.

RESULTS

Regarding CW-TCPC, highly variable success rates are reported in the literature, depending on the definition of success, type of underlying glaucoma, energy settings, follow-up duration and retreatment rates. CW-CPC often needs to be repeated, especially in paediatric patients. CW-CPC exposes to risks of inflammation and chronic ocular hypotony or phthisis with irreversible visual loss. CW-TSCPC has mainly been used in very severe forms of glaucoma, in painful eyes with limited visual potential or after filtering surgery failure. Published data on ECP are more limited but overall good success rates have been reported. Through the direct visualization of the targeted ciliary body in anatomically abnormal eyes, ECP is the preferred surgical procedure in paediatric refractory glaucoma. Complication rates are relatively low after ECP; however, large studies with long-term follow-up are needed. ECP may be used in difficult, refractory cases, but it is often used earlier when combined with cataract surgery. Despite limited data on the exact mechanism of action of MP-TLT and a lack of standardization of laser settings, the first data from heterogeneous case series shows that it has a similar efficacy and a better safety profile compared to CW-TSCPC in the medium term.

CONCLUSION

Although they may lead to sight-threatening complications, both CW-TSCPC and ECP seem effective. ECP appears to be superior to CW-TSCPC in paediatric refractory glaucoma. Unlike ECP combined with cataract surgery, evidence supporting a wider use of CW-TSCPC and MP-TLT in earlier stages of neuropathy is lacking. While it now appears that the safety profile of MP-TLT is superior to that of CW-CPC, robust prospective comparative studies including homogeneous and well-defined cohorts of patients are still needed to confirm an at least comparable efficacy in the long term.

Anterior versus posterior endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation: comparison of indications, populations, and outcomes

PURPOSE

To examine how indications, patient characteristics, and outcomes differ between anterior and posterior approaches of endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) in the treatment of glaucoma.

METHODS

This is a retrospective chart review of 9 anterior and 20 posterior ECP cases (n = 29).

RESULTS

Posterior ECP cases were typically associated with a dramatic increase in intraocular pressure (IOP), whereas the anterior ECP was associated with chronically elevated pressures. The initial IOPs in mm Hg of posterior ECP cases (26.8 non-NVG; 35.2 NVG) were much greater than anterior ECP cases (17.8), and a greater overall reduction in IOP was observed in the posterior versus anterior ECP cases (10.3 posterior non-NVG; 21.3 posterior NVG; 3.6 anterior, P < .001). With procedural success defined as 6-month post-operative IOP falling within normal ranges and a decrease in either IOP or number of prescribed glaucoma medications, the success rate of ECP was 92% for posterior NVG, 89% for anterior and 75% for posterior non-NVG cases (P = .34), similar to the previous literature. Of the four unsuccessful cases, two resulted in a normal IOP but lacked a drop in pressure or reduction in medication burden, one resulted in a 6-point drop in IOP but remained at 23 mm Hg, and one resulted in phthisis bulbi (3%) from an initial pressure above 40 mm Hg.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation is an effective and safe procedure for severe glaucoma cases from both an anterior and posterior approach. Ophthalmologists should consider this procedure as part of their glaucoma treatment arsenal.

Cyclodiode Laser as the First Surgical Approach in Childhood Glaucoma Under the Age of 8 Years

PRCIS

Cyclodiode as a primary treatment for childhood glaucoma patients younger than 8 years has a 12-month success rate of 55.24%. It can delay the need for penetrating glaucoma surgery.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the treatment outcome of cyclodiode laser in childhood glaucoma for patients under the age of 8 years.

DESIGN

This was a retrospective, consecutive, noncomparative case series.

PARTICIPANTS

All childhood glaucoma patients who underwent cyclodiode from March 2005 to January 2017 as a primary surgical treatment under the age of 8 years.

METHODS

A retrospective review of the medical records of consecutive patients who underwent cyclodiode by a single surgeon.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Success for single-diode intervention was defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) (>6 wk postoperative) ≤21 mm Hg with antiglaucoma medications and ≥20% IOP reduction, no further glaucoma surgery including cyclodiode, no loss of perception of light, and no major complications. Success for multiple-diode interventions was defined similar to the single diode, except that repeated cyclodiode is not considered a failure.

RESULTS

In all, 59 eyes of 43 patients were studied. The most common diagnosis was aphakic glaucoma. The mean age at cyclodiode treatment was 2.7 years (SD=2.2). Fifty-six percent of the patients were under 3 years. Success rates at 12 months after the procedure were 46.67% and 55.24% for single-diode and multiple-diode interventions, respectively. An IOP of >20 mm Hg 6 weeks after a cyclodiode session is a significant risk factor for failure with an hazard ratio of 2.41 (95% confidence interval: 1.00-5.81; P=0.05). Among the operated eyes, the surgeon could avoid further glaucoma surgery in 67.8% of the eyes during the first year after single or multiple cyclodiode sessions. None of the eyes experienced phthisis bulbi, hypotony, and severe uveitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Cyclodiode laser in childhood glaucoma patients under the age of 8 years can be considered a safe alternative for glaucoma patients who can have a high risk of surgical complications. Performing cyclodiode laser can delay the need for penetrating glaucoma surgery. The IOP at 6 weeks may be a good predictor for the treatment outcome.

One-year outcome of low dose laser cyclophotocoagulation for capsular tension ring-induced malignant glaucoma: A case report

RATIONALE

Malignant glaucoma is a refractory glaucoma which often relentlessly worsened despite conventional therapy. Ultrasonographic biomicroscopy always cannot show the ciliary-block of malignant glaucoma. We report a case of capsular tension ring induced ciliary-block and successfully treated by low dose laser cyclophotocoagulation, with 1-year follow-up.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 75-year-old woman was referred for glaucoma with a history of cataract and lens zonular laxity, and surgery with combined phacoemulsification and capsular tension ring implantation. She subsequently underwent trabeculectomy for uncontrolled intraocular pressure on maximal medical therapy. One day later, the patient presented as shallow anterior chamber of Shaffer grade 1 and an elevated intraocular pressure of 51.0 mmHg in the right eye.

DIAGNOSIS

Ciliary block caused by capsular tension ring and malignant glaucoma was observed.

INTERVENTIONS

Low dose laser cyclophotocoagulation was performed under retrobulbar anesthesia.

OUTCOMES

One day later, the patient's intraocular pressure decreased to 14.3 mmHg on topical atropine 1% and 2 classes of intraocular pressure lowering medications. The patient discontinued topical atropine and intraocular pressure lowering medications 4 months postoperatively and her condition had remained stable for 1 year without any medications. The patient had a satisfactory recovery benefited from the low dose laser cyclophotocoagulation.

LESSONS

Low dose laser cyclophotocoagulation in this challenging case of capsular tension ring-induced malignant glaucoma provided an effective and fast recovery of anterior chamber depth over a 1-year period.

Micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation using a standard protocol in patients with refractory glaucoma naive of cyclodestruction

PURPOSE

To assess the efficacy and safety of a standardized micropulse transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation procedure in refractory glaucoma.

METHODS

Retrospective, interventional study in a series of 37 consecutive patients with refractory glaucoma, cyclodestructive procedure-naive, who underwent micropulse transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation from December 2016 to October 2017. A successful laser treatment was defined as (1) intraocular pressure between 6 and 18 mm Hg; (2) 20% of baseline intraocular pressure reduction; (3) no additional glaucoma medications; (4) no decrease in vision due to complications or change in intraocular pressure; and (5) no need for additional glaucoma surgery except micropulse transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation retreatment.

RESULTS

Mean age was 60.2 years. Mean follow-up was 9.7 ± 3.9 months. The mean preoperative intraocular pressure (28.7 mm Hg) significantly decreased to 21.0 mm Hg at 1 month, 18.5 mm Hg at 3 months, 18.4 mm Hg at 6 months, and 18.5 mm Hg at 12 months (p < 0.01 at all time points). The mean number of preoperative glaucoma medications (4.7) decreased to 4.0 at 1 month (p = 0.14), 4.5 at 3 months (p < 0.05), 3.9 at 6 months (p < 0.05), and 3.6 at 12 months (p < 0.05). At 1 year, the success rate was 35% with a mean intraocular pressure lowering of 36%. One patient had hypotony and a loss of best-corrected visual acuity. Mild transient postoperative inflammation was observed in 8% of the cases.

CONCLUSION

Using a standardized procedure, micropulse transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation allows a mild intraocular pressure decrease with a low rate of complications and thus achieves a relatively good profit risk benefit, mostly for moderately hypertensive refractory glaucoma.

Neurotrophic keratitis after micropulse transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation

Purpose

To report two cases of neurotrophic keratitis (NK) after micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (MP-TCP).

Observations

Two patients with predisposing factors for decreased corneal sensation developed NK 1 month after MP-TCP. Both patients did not heal with initial treatment with topical antibiotic and preservative free artificial tears. One patient required use of a bandage contact lens and the other patient required tarsorrhaphy. Both eyes experienced recurrence of NK.

Conclusions and importance

NK can be triggered after MP-TCP in patients with underlying predisposing factors for decreased corneal sensation. This uncommon but vision-threatening complication should be discussed preoperatively with high-risk patients as a possible adverse event after MP-TCP and followed closely postoperatively.

Comparison between pars plana and anterior endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation for the treatment of glaucoma

IMPORTANCE

This is the first study to compare the efficacy and safety of endocyclophotocoagulation (ECP) via pars plana (ECP-plus) with ECP via limbus (anterior ECP) for treating glaucoma.

BACKGROUND

There is no direct comparison of treatment outcomes between ECP-plus and anterior ECP.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

PARTICIPANTS

Fifty-four consecutive patients.

METHODS

Fifty-eight eyes from 54 consecutive patients underwent anterior ECP (33 eyes) or ECP-plus (25 eyes) with 2-year follow-up. Linear mixed model was used to analyse the surgical outcomes.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Intraocular Pressure (IOP) was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were best-corrected visual acuity, number of glaucoma medications, complications and success rate.

RESULTS

Compared to anterior ECP, patients in the ECP-plus group had lower IOP (estimate of effect size [EES] = -3.7 mmHg, P = 0.023) and used fewer number of glaucoma medications (EES = -1.11, P = 0.003), after adjusting for degrees of treatment, preoperative IOP, and presence of combined ECP and phacoemulsification procedure. Patients with ECP-plus achieved a higher success rate at 2 years postoperatively (80% vs 33.3%, P < 0.001). The decrease in IOP between the preoperative and last follow-up visit was greater in the ECP-plus group compared to the anterior ECP group (14.3 mmHg (52%) vs 5.2 mmHg (24%), P = 0.001). There was no significant difference in complication rates between the two groups (28% vs 33%, P = 0.561).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Anterior ECP and ECP-plus have a similar safety profile, and ECP-plus may offer superior IOP control for the management of glaucoma.

Evolution of Cyclophotocoagulation

Cyclodestructive techniques have been a treatment option for refractory glaucoma since its first use in the 1930s. Over the past nine decades, cyclodestruction has advanced from the initial cyclodiathermy to micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (MP-TSCPC) which is the current treatment available. Complications associated with cyclodestruction including pain, hyphema, vision loss, hypotony and phthisis have led ophthalmologists to shy away from these techniques when other glaucoma treatment options are available. Recent studies have shown encouraging clinical results with fewer complications following cyclophotocoagulation, contributing greatly to the current increase in the use of cyclophotocoagulation as primary treatment for glaucoma. We performed our literature search on Google Scholar Database, Pubmed, Web of Sciences and Cochrane Library databases published prior to September 2017 using keywords relevant to cyclodestruction, cyclophotocoagulation and treatment of refractory glaucoma.