Outcomes of the Aurolab aqueous drainage implant and trabeculectomy with mitomycin C in iridocorneal endothelial syndrome.

PURPOSE: To compare the surgical outcomes of the Aurolab aqueous drainage implant (AADI) and trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (MMC) in patients with glaucoma secondary to iridocorneal endothelial (ICE) syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective comparative case series included 41 eyes of 41 patients with ICE syndrome and glaucoma who underwent either a trabeculectomy with MMC (n = 20) or AADI surgery (n = 21) with a minimum of 2 years follow-up. Outcome measures included intraocular pressure (IOP), the use of glaucoma medications, visual acuity, additional surgical interventions, and surgical complications. Surgical failure was defined as IOP > 21 mmHg or reduced < 20% from baseline, IOP ≤ 5 mmHg, reoperation for glaucoma or a complication, or loss of light perception vision. RESULTS: The cumulative probability of failure at 2 years was 50% in the trabeculectomy group (95%CI = 31-83%) and 24% in the AADI group (95%CI = 11-48%) (p = 0.09). The IOP was consistently lower in the AADI group compared with the trabeculectomy group at 6 months and thereafter. Surgical complications occurred in 13 eyes (65%) in the trabeculectomy group and 12 eyes (57%) in the AADI group (p = 0.71). Reoperations for glaucoma or complications were performed in 12 eyes (60%) in the trabeculectomy group and 5 patients (24%) in the tube group (p = 0.06). Cox proportional hazards showed that AADI had a 53% lower risk of failure at 2 years (p = 0.18; HR = 0.47; 95%CI = 0.16-1.40). CONCLUSION: AADI surgery achieved lower mean IOPs than trabeculectomy with MMC in managing glaucoma secondary to ICE syndrome. A trend toward lower rates of surgical failure and reoperations for glaucoma and complications was observed following AADI placement compared with trabeculectomy with MMC in eyes with ICE syndrome.

Comparison of the effect of audiovisual and verbal instructions on patient performance while performing automated Humphrey visual field testing.

Purpose: To compare the effect of audiovisual and verbal instructions on patient performance while performing automated Humphrey visual field testing. Methods: This was a prospective study. A total 120 patients divided into groups of 40 each were recruited from the glaucoma outpatient department (OPD). All patients were aged 35-75 years with no previous experience of performing HFA. Patients with hearing impairment, any other cognitive impairment, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ≤6/36 on Snellen's visual acuity were excluded. The first two groups were given strict (conservative) and lenient (liberal) verbal instructions. The instructions were adapted from those listed in the manufacturer's instruction. and the third group was shown a standard video depicting in detail how perimetry was to be performed. A questionnaire was given to each patient before and after the test to assess the patient's performance. Results: Patients diagnosed with glaucoma during testing in each group were 29 (72.50%), 30 (75.0%), and 33 (82.5%) in the video instructed, strictly verbal, and leniently verbal groups, respectively. The overall mean deviation (MD) in the right eye (RE) was of - 3.38 (-4.9 to 1.9) and in the left eye (LE) was - 3.96 (-6.4 to - 1.9). Reliable field was slightly higher for the video instructed group (47.5%) and lowest for the strictly verbal group (22.5%) (P = 0.033). A higher number of patients were very motivated in the video instructed group (27%) (P = 0.041). Post-test questionnaires showed that 40% of patients felt they have performed the test with 100% accuracy in video group with less guessing. A higher number of patients in the video instructed group (85%) felt instruction was helpful in performing the test (P = 0.001). Conclusion: The video groups were more motivated and had better confidence to perform the test with less anxiety and stress and with probably better understanding of the procedure due to visual effects enhancing their understanding.

Short-term outcomes of micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation as a primary versus additional therapy in eyes with uncontrolled glaucoma.

Purpose: To study the safety and efficacy outcomes of Micropulse Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation (MP-TSCPC) as a primary versus additional therapy in eyes with uncontrolled glaucoma. Methods: This was a prospective, interventional, comparative study. All patients with advanced and refractory glaucoma treated with MP-TSCPC from April 2020 to December 2020 were recruited in this study. Results: A total of 77 eyes of 77 patients were analyzed. Group A (n = 33), included patients with advanced glaucoma at high risk for invasive surgery, who underwent MP-TSCPC as the primary intervention, and group B (n = 44) included patients who had undergone previous surgical intervention and MP-TSCPC was used additionally to control the intraocular pressure (IOP). Mean IOP and mean number of antiglaucoma medications were 34.06 (13.9) mmHg and 3.64 (0.7), respectively, in group A and 35.61 (11.5) mmHg and 3.73 (0.9), respectively, in Group B. Postoperatively, the mean IOP and percentage of IOP reduction were significantly lower at 1, 3, and 6 months, that is, 20.78 (32%), 22.07 (30%), and 19.09 (37%), respectively, in group A and 23.68 (35%), 19.50 (44%), and 19.61 (42%), respectively, in group B, but there was no difference between the groups at all visits. Postoperative need for ocular hypotensive drugs did not differ in group A (P = 0.231); however, it was significantly lower in group B (P = 0.027). Group A had 87%, 77%, and 74% success rates at 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively, whereas group B had 91%, 86%, and 77% success rates at 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively. Postoperative complications and intervention did not reveal any statistical difference between the two groups. Conclusion: MP-TSCPC may be considered as a temporizing measure both as a primary or as an additional intervention to control the IOP in eyes with refractory and advanced glaucoma that have a high risk of vision-threatening complications with invasive surgery.

Impact of glaucoma on vision-specific quality of life in monocular glaucoma patients using the Indian vision function questionnaire.

Purpose: To evaluate the determinants affecting the quality of life in monocular glaucoma patients using the Indian vision function questionnaire. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study,: total of 196 patients were divided into two groups: cases and controls. Indian Vision Function Questionnaire (IND-VFQ) was administered and analyzed. One hundred twenty-nine (58.6%) patients who had lost their vision in one eye due to glaucoma were included as cases and 67 (30.4%) patients who had lost their vision due to other causes were taken as controls. Results: Median composite score of subscales was 54.62 (29.7-74.7) in group 1 and 45.38 (23.7-76.7) in group 2. The psychosocial impact scale was the most affected scale, the median scores were 33.02 (0 to 60.0) and 19.07 (0 to 53.0) in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Among all dimensions of IND-VFQ, the highest score was for color vision 100.0 (0-100.0) and 100.0 (0-100.0), and the lowest median score was found in mental health and dependency in both the groups. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that visual acuity was associated with a low score (P < 0.001). Female gender was significantly associated with the overall score in the univariate model (P = 0.006). Conclusion: Monocular glaucoma patients have a poor general and vision-related quality of life. Depression associated with monocularity and the perception of dependency and being a burden on their family members greatly impacted the mental health of the participants.

Bleb revision with bleborhexis and clear corneal lamellar patch graft for overhanging cystic bleb.

Background: Trabeculectomy is associated with several complications. One of the common complications with mitomycin assisted trabeculectomy is thin cystic bleb leading to bleb leak, hypotony and infections. Various technique of bleb repair and reconstruction have been described, such as conjunctival advancement, or scleral, pericardial or corneal patch graft. Purpose: To demonstrate bleb revision by bleborhexis and clear corneal lamellar patch graft for a patient with thin cystic leaking bleb leading to hypotony and decreased vision. Synopsis: This was a 75-year-old one-eyed lady, diagnosed with primary angle-closure glaucoma in both eyes with absent light perception in the left eye, had undergone a combined trabeculectomy and cataract surgery in the right eye 6 years ago. She presented with diminution of vision (6/18p), introacular pressure (IOP) of of 6 mmHg, thin cystic leaking overhanging bleb, and dysesthesia. Bleb repair by bleborhexis with lamellar corneal patch graft was performed. Bleborhexis is a technique in which the overhanging fibrosed thin cystic conjunctival bleb is peeled off the cornea smoothly to leave a uniform clear corneal surface. Clear cornea, uniform diffuse bleb, well-formed anterior chamber with and IOP of 15 mmHg was noted on the first post-operative day, with a vision of 6/12p. This procedure helped meticulous reconstruction of the bleb, early recovery of vision, maintanance of normotensive eye, and save the eye from potential infections. Highlights: Bleborhexis with lamellar corneal patch graft provides for an easy and a elegant surgical technique with minimal corneal tissue damage, faster healing and patient comfort. It could be the favored technique in patients with thin overhanging clebs. Video link: https://youtu.be/GeFYHWToueU.

Incidence and Outcomes of Hypertensive Phase Following Aurolab Aqueous Drainage Implant Surgery in Adults with Refractory Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To report the incidence and outcomes of hypertensive phase (HP) following Aurolab Aqueous Drainage Implant (AADI) (Aurolab) surgery in adults with refractory glaucoma. DESIGN: Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. METHODS: All eyes that received the AADI and had a minimum of 2-year follow-up were identified, and data of patients who had intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤21 mm Hg at 6 weeks (ie, the time at which the tube-ligature suture dissolves) were used for statistical analysis. HP was defined as IOP >21 mm Hg during the first 3 months after the release of the tube ligating suture (with or without medications) in the absence of tube obstruction. RESULTS: A total of 200 eyes were included in the study, and HP was seen in 64 eyes (32%) with a peak IOP (mean ± SD) of 29.6 ± 7.8 mm Hg and peak incidence at 2-3 months after surgery. HP resolved within 3 months of its onset in 60 of the 64 eyes (94%) with additional IOP-lowering medications. The cumulative success rates were 71.8% (95% CI = 59.3%-81.2%) in HP eyes and 76.4% (95% CI = 68.7%-82.7%) in non-HP eyes (P = .23). Unadjusted Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that eyes experiencing HP had a marginally higher risk of failure (HR = 1.16, 95% CI = 0.6-2.1), but this relationship was not statistically significant (P = .61). CONCLUSIONS: A third of eyes that underwent AADI placement experienced HP. HP was successfully managed with additional IOP-lowering medications in a majority of cases and did not have a significant influence on long-term success rate.