Canaloplasty and Trabeculotomy with the OMNI System in Patients with Open-Angle Glaucoma: Two-Year Results from the ROMEO Study

Comparison of Superior versus Inferior Canaloplasty and Trabeculotomy Using the OMNI Surgical System

Purpose

To compare outcomes of ab-interno canaloplasty and trabeculotomy of the superior versus inferior angle.

Patients and methods

This was a prospective, non-randomized, interventional comparison study done at the Veteran Affairs Hospital in Long Beach, California. All patients underwent cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation combined with ab-interno canaloplasty and trabeculotomy with the OMNI Surgical System (SightSciences, Menlo Park, CA, USA), either superiorly or inferiorly. Pre- and post-operative intraocular pressure using Goldmann applanation tonometry and best corrected visual acuity were obtained and compared using paired t-tests. Patients were excluded if they had any prior intraocular surgery or prior laser trabeculoplasty procedures.

Results

38 eyes from 29 patients were analyzed. 19 eyes were included in the superior group and 19 eyes in the inferior group. Mean pre-operative IOP in the superior group was 17.6 ± 5.2 mmHg and in the inferior group was 17.6 ± 4.6 mmHg (p > 0.99). At 12 months, mean postoperative IOP for the superior group decreased 24% to 13.3 ± 2.8 mmHg while the inferior group decreased 26% to 13.1 ± 2.2 mmHg (p = 0.92). Mean preoperative medications in the superior group were 2.2 ± 1.3 and in the inferior group was 2.4 ± 1.3 (p = 0.88). At 12 months, this decreased to 1.3 ± 1.5 post-operatively in the superior group and 2.2 ± 1.6 post-operatively in the inferior group (p = 0.64).

Conclusion

There was no statistical difference in efficacy between superior versus inferior canaloplasty/trabeculotomy with OMNI. Therefore, surgeons can perform the procedure in the direction that is most comfortable for them without affecting outcomes.

Prospective Study of Canaloplasty and Trabeculotomy Performed by Trainees

Purpose

To evaluate outcomes of new adopters of the OMNI® Surgical System (Sight Sciences, Inc.) by prospectively evaluating intermediate-term outcomes of patients operated by trainees.

Patients and Methods

This was a prospective study of surgeries performed by trainees on patients with open angle glaucoma undergoing simultaneous cataract surgery and ab interno canaloplasty and trabeculotomy using the OMNI Surgical System. Pre-operative intraocular pressure (IOP) and number of glaucoma medications were recorded. Only patients with a minimum of 6-month follow up were included. Baseline IOP was used to separate subjects into two groups: Group 1 (IOP ≥18 mmHg) and Group 2 (IOP <18 mmHg). Mean decrease in IOP and medications was calculated and compared with paired t-tests for the overall sample as well as the subgroups. Success was defined as those with a ≥20% reduction from pre-operative IOP or with an IOP ≤18 mmHg and ≥6 mmHg and on the same or fewer number of medications while not requiring additional surgery. Adverse events were also recorded.

Results

Forty-two eyes of 31 patients were included. Mean pre-operative IOP was 17.2 ± 4.8 mmHg and mean number of medications was 2.4 ± 1.2. The primary endpoint was reached in 83.3% of patients at 12 months. IOP was reduced by 22.3% to 13.4 ± 2.4 (p<0.001). Mean number of medications decreased to 1.7 ± 1.6 (p<0.001). Group 1 mean IOP decreased 35.4% from 22.2 ± 4.6 mmHg to 14.3 ± 2.8 mmHg (p<0.001). Group 2 mean number of medications decreased from 2.3 ± 1.1 to 1.6 ± 1.5 (p<0.001).

Conclusion

When operated on by the novice MIGS surgeon, the OMNI device provides effective IOP and glaucoma medication reduction with minimal adverse events. Efficacy and safety of the device in the hands of trainees was comparable to experienced glaucoma surgeons suggesting its ease of adoption.

Alternatives to Topical Glaucoma Medication for Glaucoma Management

Topical glaucoma medications have favorable safety and efficacy, but their use is limited by factors such as side effects, nonadherence, costs, ocular surface disease, intraocular pressure fluctuations, diminished quality of life, and the inherent difficulty of penetrating the corneal surface. Although traditionally these limitations have been accepted as an inevitable part of glaucoma treatment, a rapidly-evolving arena of minimally invasive surgical and laser interventions has initiated the beginnings of a reevaluation of the glaucoma treatment paradigm. This reevaluation encompasses an overall shift away from the reactive, topical-medication-first default and a shift toward earlier intervention with laser or surgical therapies such as selective laser trabeculoplasty, sustained-release drug delivery, and micro-invasive glaucoma surgery. Aside from favorable safety, these interventions may have clinically important attributes such as consistent IOP control, cost-effectiveness, independence from patient adherence, prevention of disease progression, and improved quality of life.

36-Month Outcomes from the Prospective GEMINI Study: Canaloplasty and Trabeculotomy Combined with Cataract Surgery for Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

Purpose

To provide long-term intraocular pressure (IOP) and ocular hypotensive medication usage outcomes through 36 months for patients treated with canaloplasty and trabeculotomy (OMNI Surgical System) combined with cataract surgery as participants in the GEMINI study.

Setting

Eleven ophthalmology practices in 10 US states.

Design

Non-interventional 36-month extension of the 12-month, prospective, multicenter, GEMINI study.

Methods

GEMINI patients had visually significant cataract, mild-to-moderate glaucoma (ICD-10 guidelines), medicated IOP <33 mmHg, and unmedicated mean diurnal IOP (DIOP) (after washout) 21-36 mmHg. Patients from GEMINI were eligible for inclusion. Outcome measures were reduction in mean unmedicated DIOP, reduction in mean IOP-lowering medications, percent of eyes with ≥20% reduction in unmedicated DIOP, and percent of eyes with unmedicated DIOP ≥6 and ≤18 mmHg.

Results

A total of 66 patients provided consent and were enrolled. Mean (SD) unmedicated DIOP was 23.1 (2.7) mmHg at baseline, 16.7 (4.1), 16.3 (3.3) at 24 and 36 months; mean reductions of 6.2 (4.1) and 6.9 (3.4) mmHg. Twelve-month IOP at the end of GEMINI was 15.6 mmHg. The proportion of eyes with ≥20% reduction in IOP was 77% and 78% (months 24 and 36) compared to 87% at month 12 from GEMINI. About 68% of patients had an IOP between 6 and 18 mmHg at 24 months and 71% at 36 months. Mean IOP-lowering medications was 1.7 at baseline, which was reduced to 0.4 (24 months, -1.3) and 0.3 (36 months, -1.4). About 74% of patients (46 of 62) were medication free at 36 months.

Conclusion

GEMINI demonstrated 12-month effectiveness of canaloplasty and trabeculotomy with OMNI combined with cataract surgery for IOP and medication reduction in mild-to-moderate glaucoma. However, longer-term data is key to the decision making in the selection of a surgical treatment. This GEMINI extension demonstrates that the 12-month outcomes from GEMINI were sustained through 36 months.

Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery: Latest Developments and Future Challenges

The development of minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGSs) was intended to provide safe and modestly efficacious modalities for early intervention of mild-to-moderate glaucoma, with minimal trauma and rapid recovery. They were mainly ab interno procedures that reduce intraocular pressure by facilitating the aqueous outflow by bypassing the trabecular meshwork resistance, reinforcing the uveoscleral flow via the supraciliary space, and reducing aqueous production by the ciliary body. While the cumulating evidence helps shape the role of the available MIGS, the exponential new development and advancement in this field has expanded the territory of MIGS. Apart from developing subconjunctival MIGS filtration devices (Xen gel stent and PRESERFLO MicroShunt), there is a tendency to revisit the "traditional" MIGS for alternative use and to modify the procedures with consideration of the fundamental aqueous outflow physiology. Combined MIGS has also been suggested, based on the theory that their different mechanisms may provide additive or synergistic effects. The advancement of laser procedures is also promising and could supplement unmet needs along the glaucoma treatment algorithm. This review examines the broad array of MIGS, updates the recent findings, discusses their potential alternative applications, and explores future challenges.