Two-Year Outcomes of Trabeculectomy and Phacotrabeculectomy in Primary Open Angle Versus Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma.

PRCIS: Phacotrabeculectomy had a significantly lower 24-month failure rate than the isolated trabeculectomy in both the primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) patients. The impact of adding phacoemulsification to trabeculectomy was found to be similar between the eyes with POAG and PACG. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare the 2-year outcomes of primary mitomycin C-augmented combined phacotrabeculectomy (Phaco+Trab) with isolated trabeculectomy (Trab) in phakic patients with POAG and PACG. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed primary glaucoma patients who underwent mitomycin C-augmented trabeculectomy and completed 2 years of follow-up. Failure rate, postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), percentage of IOP reduction, and the number of glaucoma medications at 24 months after surgery were compared between the Phaco+Trab and Trab groups. RESULTS: The study included 146 eyes of 121 patients; 74 underwent Trab and 72 underwent Phaco+Trab. POAG and PACG were present in 71 and 75 eyes, respectively. Defining a failure with IOP criteria of >18 mm Hg or IOP reduction of <30%, the failure rates were 42% and 62% for Phaco+Trab and Trab, respectively. The Phaco+Trab group had a significantly lower failure rate than the Trab group for all subjects [risk ratio (RR): 0.60, 95% CI, 0.44-0.81, P =0.001], POAG subgroup (RR: 0.61, 95% CI, 0.41-0.93, P =0.02), and PACG subgroup (RR: 0.53, 95% CI, 0.33-0.86, P =0.01). Differences in the postoperative IOP, percentage of IOP reduction, and number of glaucoma medications were not significant between the 2 groups for all subjects, POAG, and PACG (all P >0.05). The magnitude of the effects of adding phacoemulsification to the trabeculectomy was comparable for the POAG and PACG groups, for each outcome (all P >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The final 24-month failure rate in the Phaco+Trab group was lower than that in the Trab group in both the POAG and PACG subjects. The impact of adding phacoemulsification to trabeculectomy was found to be similar between the eyes with POAG and PACG.

Ciliochoroidal effusion and its association with the outcomes of micropulse transscleral laser therapy in glaucoma patients: a pilot study.

We investigate the development of ciliochoroidal effusion following micropulse transscleral laser therapy (MPTLT) and evaluate the relationship between the early postoperative ciliochoroidal effusion (ECE) and short-term treatment outcomes. Glaucoma patients who underwent MPTLT were assessed for ciliochoroidal effusion by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) at postoperative 1, 4, 12 weeks. The subjects were classified based on AS-OCT findings at postoperative 1 week into eyes with and without ECE. The absolute intraocular pressure (IOP), IOP reduction and number of antiglaucoma medications were compared between eyes with and without ECE. A total of 50 eyes were included, of which 23 (46%) developed ciliochoroidal effusion at postoperative 1 week. Almost all effusion resolved at 4 weeks. At 12 weeks, the mean IOP (SD) significantly decreased from 28.5 (12.8) mmHg to 17.8 (10.5) mmHg (p < 0.001), and the mean number of medications (SD) decreased from 4.1 (0.9) to 3.3 (1.1) (p < 0.001). Eyes with ECE had significantly greater IOP reduction (p = 0.009) and lower absolute IOP (p = 0.008) at the 4-week visit. There was no significant difference in number of medications between the groups. In conclusion, ciliochoroidal effusion was commonly observed following MPTLT. Eyes with ECE had overall greater IOP reduction during early post-operation.

Outcomes of Surgical Interventions in Primary Congenital Glaucoma Patients.

PURPOSE: The aim was to report long-term surgical success of primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) patients in Thailand. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PCG patients who underwent one of the following primary operations: trabeculotomy, goniotomy, trabeculectomy, combined trabeculotrabeculectomy (CTT) and diode transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TSCPC) between January 1992 and January 2018 were reviewed. Surgical success was defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) between 5 and 21 mm Hg with or without antiglaucoma medications. Failure was defined as IOP ≤5 or ≥21 mm Hg for 2 consecutive visits, or when an additional glaucoma surgery was required to control IOP. Survival curves were analyzed using multilevel mixed-effect Weibull model. RESULTS: A total of 81 eyes from 55 PCG patients were included. Surgical procedures involved 20 goniotomies, 15 trabeculotomies, 16 trabeculectomies, 15 CTT, and 15 TSCPC. Median follow-up time was 24 months (interquartile range: 9 to 60 mo). Overall success rates were 68.8% at 1 year, 63.8% at 3 years, and 53.7% at 5 years. All types of surgery except TSCPC had comparable cumulative 1 year success rates ranging from 78.5% to 83.3%. Cumulative success rates of trabeculotomy (80.05%) and CTT (79.4%) were maintained at 3 and 5 years and were the highest among all procedures at 5 years. TSCPC had a significantly lower success rate compared with other types of surgery (hazard ratio: 7.4 to 13.1, all P=0.01). All patients receiving primary TSCPC showed no success at 48 months. CONCLUSION: Primary trabeculotomy and primary CTT demonstrated the highest long-term success rates in PCG patients.

Comparison of Corneal Biomechanical Properties among Axial Myopic, Nonaxial Myopic, and Nonmyopic Eyes.

PURPOSE: To compare corneal deformation characteristics using ultra-high-speed Scheimpflug camera (Corvis ST) in patients with nonmyopic (NM), mild-to-moderate nonaxial myopic (MM), and high axial myopic (HM) eyes. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, normal subjects aged >40 years with no history of ocular laser/surgery were classified according to axial length (AL) and spherical equivalence (SE) into three groups: (1) NM (SE > -0.50 D and AL < 26 mm), (2) MM (SE -6.00 D to -0.50 D and AL < 26 mm), and (3) HM (SE ≤ -6.00 D and AL ≥ 26 mm). Seven parameters including corneal deformation amplitude (CDA), inward/outward corneal applanation length, inward/outward corneal velocity (ICV and OCV), peak distance, and radius were measured. Pearson correlation and linear mixed-effects model were done. RESULTS: A total of 180 eyes were recruited. 98 eyes were NM, 30 eyes were MM, and 52 eyes were HM. There were significant correlations of OCV to the degree of refractive error (r = 0.203, p < 0.001) and AL (r = -0.242, p < 0.001). After adjusting for age, sex, intraocular pressure, and corneal thickness, there was significantly higher CDA (ß = 0.07, p < 0.001), faster OCV (ß = -0.08, p < 0.001), and smaller radius (ß = -0.39, p=0.01) in the HM group compared to the NM group. CONCLUSION: The higher CDA, faster OCV, and smaller radius found in the HM may suggest that these eyes have reduced ocular stiffness and may be less stable and more prone to stress.

Tight orbit syndrome: a previously unrecognized cause of open-angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To describe a new syndrome of tight orbit and intractable glaucoma with a poor visual prognosis. METHODS: A retrospective observational case series of six patients seen at two centres between 2001 and 2007 assessing intraocular pressure (IOP), best-corrected visual acuity and visual field. RESULTS: Three men and three women, ranging in age at diagnosis from 14 to 53 years, demonstrated similar orbital features and progressive visual field loss despite intensive management with medication and laser and operative surgery. Highest IOPs ranged from 30 to 50 mmHg. Trabeculectomy and/or glaucoma drainage devices were attempted in five patients but all failed. One patient underwent orbital decompression with achievement of IOP control. Final IOP at last follow-up was variable; only two patients achieved IOP in the normal range, with the rest ranging from 25 to 40 mmHg. All patients had advanced visual field loss. CONCLUSION: Tight orbit syndrome presents a serious clinical challenge. Despite maximum medical therapy and surgical intervention IOP is difficult to control, resulting in progressive visual field loss.

Plateau iris in Asian subjects with primary angle closure glaucoma.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of plateau iris in Asian eyes with primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). METHODS: In this cross-sectional observational study, subjects older than 40 years with PACG who had a patent laser peripheral iridotomy underwent UBM in 1 eye. Ultrasound biomicroscopy images were qualitatively analyzed using standardized criteria. Plateau iris in a quadrant was defined by anteriorly directed ciliary body, absent ciliary sulcus, steep iris root from its point of insertion followed by a downward angulation, flat iris plane, and irido-angle contact. At least 2 quadrants had to fulfill these UBM criteria for an eye to be classified as having plateau iris. RESULTS: One hundred eleven subjects (70 from Singapore, 41 from Thailand) with PACG were recruited. The mean (SD) age was 65.6 (8.1) years, and 63.9% were female. Based on standardized UBM criteria, plateau iris was found in 36 of 111 eyes (32.4%; 95% confidence interval, 24.4%-41.6%). In these 36 eyes, quadrant-wise analysis showed 66.7% had plateau iris in 2 quadrants; 22.2%, in 3 quadrants; and 11.1%, in all quadrants. CONCLUSIONS: About 30% of PACG eyes with a patent laser peripheral iridotomy were found to have plateau iris on UBM, highlighting the importance of non-pupil block mechanisms in Asian individuals.

Selective laser trabeculoplasty for primary angle closure with persistently elevated intraocular pressure after iridotomy.

PURPOSE: To determine whether selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) can lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in eyes with chronic primary angle closure, elevated IOP, and a patent iridotomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with chronic angle closure who had underwent iridotomy, had an IOP greater than 21 mm Hg and a gonioscopically visible pigmented trabecular meshwork for at least 90 degrees were enrolled. SLT was applied to open angle segments. Duration of follow-up was 6 months. RESULTS: Sixty eyes of 60 patients were enrolled. The mean baseline IOP was 24.6+/-2.5 mm Hg. At 6 months, IOP reduction of > or =3 mm Hg or 4 mm Hg was measured in 82% and 72% of eyes, respectively, and IOP reduction of > or =20% or 30% was measured in 54% and 24% of eyes, respectively. When only eyes that were treated with the same number or fewer medications were considered, these IOP reductions were measured in 67%, 58%, 43%, and 15%, respectively. During the study period 1 eye (1.7%) required trabeculectomy owing to IOP elevation shortly after the SLT. There were no other significant complications attributable to SLT. CONCLUSIONS: SLT seems to be a safe and effective method of reducing IOP in many eyes with primary angle closure and a patent iridotomy in which there is a sufficient extent of visible trabecular meshwork.