[Modern methods of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery]

[Micro-invasive glaucoma surgery]

Glaucoma is a severe, rapidly progressing disease that in the absence of proper treatment leads to blindness in 20% of patients. According to the World Glaucoma Association, this disease is the most socially significant in modern ophthalmology and requires searching for new and effective methods of treatment. This article presents the results of research and reviews on this issue, considers both conservative therapy and surgical methods of treatment, analyzes in detail modern methods of micro-invasive eye surgery actively used in clinical practice. The article also describes indications for a various types of interventions, as well as the effect achieved by them and the possible complications, and presents the conclusions about the possibility of using these procedures in wide clinical practice.

Eye Hydrodynamics after Combined Treatment of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Complicated Cataract

Aim: To study hydrodynamics of the eye after combined treatment – a combination of laser activation of trabecula and cataract phacoemulsification – in a comparative aspect.

Material and methods. The study included 65 patients (65 eyes) with initial and advanced stages (I–II stages) of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and complicated cataract. Among the patients there were 38 women (58.5 %) and 27 men (41.5 %), the average age was 68.8 ± 8.2 years. The follow-up period is 12 months after the treatment. The patients were divided into two groups: the main one – 33 patients (33 eyes) who underwent combined treatment – YAG-laser activation of trabecula (YAG-LAT) and phacoemulsification of cataract with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, the control group – 32 patients (32 eyes) who underwent only phacoemulsification.

Initially, the average intraocular pressure (IOP) (P0) in the main and control groups was 20.72 ± 3.39 mm Hg and 21.02 ± 3.55 mm Hg respectively. The average number of antihypertensive drugs used in the study group was 1.53 ± 0.64, in the control group – 1.34 ± 0.55.

Results. There were no intraand postoperative complications. By the end of the follow-up period, a significant decrease in the average IOP level compared to its preoperative value by 29.2 % was determined in the main group, and 9.8 % in the control. The average number of antihypertensive drugs used in the study group decreased from 1.53 ± 0.64 to 0.67 ± 0.59 (p < 0.05), in the control group of patients, on the contrary, the average number of antihypertensive agents increased from 1.34 ± 0.55 to 1.91 ± 0.70 (p < 0.05).

Conclusion. In the long-term postoperative period after combined treatment (YAG-LAT + phaco), IOP normalization was achieved in 96.9 % of cases, as well as a significant increase in visual acuity of patients. The developed method of treatment is safe, has a minimal risk of complications and can be used for the treatment of patients with initial stages of POAG in combination with complicated cataracts with increased IOP level, inefficiency of antihypertensive therapy.

[Reverse meridional cyclodialysis ab interno with implantation of a metallic implant in patients with glaucoma of different etiology]

PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of reverse meridional cyclodialysis (RMC) ab interno with implantation of a metallic implant into the supraciliary space for decreasing intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

RMC was performed ab interno in 51 patients, among which 30 patients had a metallic implant inserted into the supraciliary space (implant group). Twenty-one patients who underwent RMC ab interno without implant comprised the control group. The outcomes were evaluated after 12 months. RMC was performed through a clear corneal incision using a special spatula at 4-5 o'clock reaching 5-6 mm deep, width of the cleft was 11-12^o of the iridocorneal angle. The evaluation criteria included adverse events, postoperative IOP changes, need for hypotensive medications and repeat surgery. The results were analyzed using variational statistics.

RESULTS

Baseline mean IOP was 28.8±4.7 mmHg and 30.2±7.2 mmHg in implant and control groups, respectively, and at 12 months it decreased by 28.7±12.0% and 29.1±17.1%. Baseline mean medication usage was 2.7±0.8 and 2.6±0.9 in respective groups, at 12 months it decreased to 1.1±0.9 and 0.8±0.9. In the implant group, overall success was achieved in 93.3% of cases (complete success - 33.3%, partial success - 60.0%), while in the control group it was 66.7% (complete success - 28.6%, partial success - 38.1%) (p=0.03). In terms of IOP decrease, medication usage and adverse events the difference between the groups was statistically insignificant. Repeat surgery was required 5 times more frequently in the control group (33.3% vs 6.7%, p=3E-05).

CONCLUSION

Implantation of a metallic implant into the supraciliary space to keep the cyclodialysis cleft open is safe and effective and substantially decreases the need for repeat surgery.