Paul Glaucoma Implant following Congenital Cataract Surgery in a Pediatric Cohort.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of the Paul Glaucoma Implant (PGI) in pediatric eyes diagnosed with glaucoma following congenital cataract surgery (GFCS). Methods: A retrospective, single-center, descriptive study was conducted on consecutive children diagnosed with GFCS who underwent PGI implantation between July 2022 and November 2023 at the University Medical Center Mainz. The primary outcome measure was the reduction in IOP at the last follow-up visit. Results: Ten eyes of nine children were included in the study. The mean follow-up time was 7.70 ± 4.22 months (4.68-10.72 months). At the end of the study follow-up, the mean (95% CI) reduction in IOP was -14.8 ± 8.73 mmHg (-8.56 to -21.04 mmHg, p < 0.001). At the last follow-up, 30.0% (3/10) of patients achieved an IOP (intraocular pressure) of ≥6 and ≤21 mmHg with a reduction in IOP of ≥25% without treatment, while 90.0% (9/10) achieved this target IOP regardless of glaucoma medication treatment. The mean number of antiglaucoma medications was significantly reduced from 3.50 (IQR = 1) to 2.0 (IQR = 2, p = 0.01), and the visual acuity logMAR improved from 1.26 ± 0.62 to 1.03 ± 0.48 (p = 0.04). Only one eye experienced numerical hypotony (4 mmHg) without choroidal detachment or anterior chamber shallowing within the first 24 h. No other adverse events were observed during the follow-up period. Conclusions: PGI implantation significantly lowered IOP and the number of antiglaucoma eye drops with a favorable safety profile in children diagnosed with GFCS, thereby achieving a high rate of qualified surgical success in the short term.

Long-Term Effectiveness of XEN 45 Gel-Stent in Open-Angle Glaucoma Patients.

Purpose: To assess the effectiveness of XEN45, either alone or in combination with phacoemulsification, in open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients in clinical practice. Methods: Retrospective and single-center study conducted on OAG patients who underwent XEN45 implant, either alone or in combination with cataract surgery. We compared the clinical outcomes of the eyes of thosewho underwent XEN-solo versus those who underwent XEN+Phacoemulsification. The primary endpoint was the mean change in intraocular pressure (IOP) from baseline to the last follow-up visit. Results: A total of 154 eyes, 37 (24.0%) eyes that underwent XEN-solo and 117 (76.0%) eyes that underwent XEN+Phacoemulsification, were included. The mean preoperative IOP was significantly lowered from 19.1±5.0 mmHg to 14.9±3.8 mmHg at month-36, p<0.0001. Preoperative IOP was significantly lowered from 21.2±6.2 mmHg and 18.4±4.3 mmHg to 14.3±4.0 mm Hg and 15.2±3.7 mmHg at month-36 in the XEN-solo and XEN+Phacoemulsification groups, p<0.0004 and p=0.0009; with no significant differences between them. In the overall study population, the mean number of antiglaucoma medications was significantly reduced from 2.1±0.8 to 0.2±0.6, p<0.0001. There were no significant differences in the proportion of eyes with a final IOP ≤14 mmHg and ≤16 mmHg between XEN-solo and XEN+Phaco groups (p=0.8406 and 0.04970, respectively). Thirty-six (23.4%) eyes required a needling procedure. Conclusion: XEN implant significantly lowered IOP and reduced the need of ocular hypotensive medication, while maintaining a good safety profile. Beyond week-1, there were no significant differences in IOP lowering between XEN-solo and XEN+Phacoemulsification groups.

Corneal Endothelial Dysfunction as a Manifestation of Digoxin Toxicity.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to report a case of corneal endothelial dysfunction and subsequent corneal edema in a patient with digoxin toxicity. METHOD: This was a case report. RESULTS: A 77-year-old woman diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma and treated with a topical prostaglandin analog for 5 years developed blurred vision and photopsia in both eyes. Systemic medications included digoxin, furosemide, apixaban, amlodipine, enalapril, and simvastatin. Ocular examination revealed folds in Descemet membrane and corneal stromal edema in both eyes, with normal fundoscopy. Ancillary tests revealed elevated serum digoxin levels. No intervention other than discontinuation of digoxin was initiated. The corneal edema improved after that and resolved in the next 2 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: We encountered 1 case of corneal edema secondary to corneal endothelial dysfunction in a patient with digoxin toxicity. Special care should be taken to elicit a complete history because ocular signs can be manifestations of systemic alterations with vital importance for patients.

3-Year Outcomes of XEN Implant Compared With Trabeculectomy, With or Without Phacoemulsification for Open Angle Glaucoma.

PRCIS: Trabeculectomy (TRAB) surgery reduces the intraocular pressure (IOP) more than the XEN45 implant over 3 years. There is no difference in the number of antiglaucoma medications between the 2 procedures. The decision to perform either TRAB or XEN45 implantation must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the high rate of needling of the XEN45. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the differences between the efficacy and safety of the XEN45 implant and TRAB, either alone or in combination with phacoemulsification (PHACO), in patients with open angle glaucoma (OAG) at 36 months. METHODS: A retrospective, single-center and comparative study conducted on OAG patients who underwent XEN45 implantation or TRAB from 2016 to 2018. Patients were divided into 4 groups: group 1 (XEN45 alone), group 2 (XEN45+PHACO), group 3 (TRAB alone), and group 4 (TRAB+PHACO). For statistical purposes, groups 1 and 2 were combined (XEN45 implant), whereas groups 3 and 4 were also combined (TRAB surgery). IOP, number of glaucoma medications, and adverse events were evaluated. The main outcome measure was the reduction in IOP at 36 months postoperatively. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-four patients (134 eyes; 63 XEN45 and 71 TRAB) were included. The mean (95% confidence interval) IOP reduction at the end of the study follow-up was -6.3 (-11.0 to -1.6 mm Hg, P =0.025, XEN45 alone), -8.9 (-11.0 to -6.8 mm Hg, P <0.001, TRAB alone), -2.5 (-4.5 to -0.4 mm Hg, P =0.019, XEN45+PHACO), and -5.6 (-7.7 to -3.4 mm Hg, P <0.001, TRAB±PHACO). The proportion of patients achieving an IOP≥6 and ≤16 mm Hg without treatment at the end of the 36-month follow-up were 50.8% (32/63) in the XEN45 implant and 49.3% (35/71) in the TRAB surgery group, P =0.863. The mean number of glaucoma medications was significantly reduced in all the study groups. The needling rate was 19% in XEN45 versus 5.6% in the TRAB group ( P =0.030), and 2.81% and 36.6% of eyes in the TRAB group presented anterior chamber flattening and hyphema, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: TRAB surgery lowered IOP significantly more than XEN45 implant with or without phacoemulsification over 3 years and had a significantly lower need for additional needling surgery. Both procedures reduced glaucoma medications to a similar rate. These findings are relevant to the informed consent process and patient decisions for one procedure over the other.