Recurrent Tube Erosions with Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy in Patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

PURPOSE: To determine the rates of primary and recurrent glaucoma tube shunt erosions in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) receiving anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) intravitreal injections. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with AMD who underwent tube revision for erosion at the Duke Eye Center from January 1, 1999, to January 1, 2019, were identified. Patients with and without anti-VEGF injections were compared. METHODS: Patient demographics, ocular diagnoses, glaucoma tube shunt types and locations, and dates of glaucoma surgeries and anti-VEGF injections were collected. Statistical analyses were performed with P < 0.05 as significant. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures included the number of tube erosions, time from anti-VEGF injection to tube erosion, and secondary complications after tube revisions. RESULTS: A total of 150 patients with AMD with anti-VEGF (309 tubes) and 262 patients with AMD without anti-VEGF (459 tubes) were identified. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of tube erosions in patients with anti-VEGF (15 tubes, 4.8%) versus without anti-VEGF (12 tubes, 2.6%) (P = 0.10). However, patients receiving anti-VEGF had on average a greater number of tube erosion events (2.1±0.7 events) compared with patients without anti-VEGF (1.3±0.7, P < 0.01). Ten patients (91%) received concurrent anti-VEGF injections at the time of tube erosion, and the average duration of prior anti-VEGF therapy was approximately 2 years. Tube erosion was noted 46.5±60.7 days from the preceding anti-VEGF injection. Secondary complications after tube revision in the anti-VEGF group included 5 explanted tubes for recurrent erosions. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest intravitreal anti-VEGF injections are linked to higher rates of recurrent glaucoma tube erosions in patients with AMD. The majority of patients received chronic and serial anti-VEGF injections. Thus, additional consideration should be given to glaucoma surgical planning in patients receiving anti-VEGF injections, especially in those with a primary tube erosion.

Feasibility of laser trabeculoplasty in angle closure glaucoma: a review of favourable histopathological findings in narrow angles.

Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) has been indicated as a safe and efficient treatment for primary open-angle glaucoma; however, recent studies have also shown positive results with the use of SLT in some clinical conditions related to primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). Despite the potential benefits of SLT in selected cases of PACG, the mechanisms underlying the modifications in the trabecular meshwork tissue of patients with PACG are poorly understood. This narrative review approached both the current, limited knowledge about the histological changes observed in different forms of PACG and the clinical results of SLT treatment for PACG. Favourable outcomes of SLT in patients with PACG, specifically in areas of non-occluded angle, need further substantiation through large controlled clinical trials. A deeper understanding of the biomolecular changes of those areas is essential to improve both laser technical details and the clinical efficacy of SLT therapy.

Three-dimensional nature of retinal nerve fiber layer defects.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the 3-dimensional nature of wedge-shaped retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) losses. To study the impact of training glaucoma fellows in this identification technique by evaluating their rate of RNFL loss detection on stereo disc photographs. METHODS: Wedge-shaped RNFL defects were identified in stereo disc photographs of early-glaucoma patients. The 3-dimensional nature of RNFL defects and overlying retinal blood vessel contour changes were identified. Four glaucoma fellows were given stereophotographs to identify the presence or absence of RNFL defects. After training in identification of RNFL defects by noting their 3-dimensional nature and overlying blood vessel contour changes, the same set of photographs were reevaluated by the fellows. We determined whether there was a difference between the before and after assessments in the probability of a correct response for each of the fellows. RESULTS: Loss of retinal thickness in the form of grooves and the resulting 3-dimensional nature of the RNFL defects were visualized on stereoscopic examination. Overlying retinal blood vessels coursed into and out of the RNFL defects. Three case examples of such wedge-shaped RNFL defects are presented. For each fellow, the proportion of RNFL defects correctly identified after training was greater than the proportion before training (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Identifying the 3-dimensional nature of wedge-shaped RNFL defects may improve rate of detection of RNFL defects during clinical examination.

High failure rate associated with 180 degrees selective laser trabeculoplasty.

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in a tertiary care referral center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study of selective laser trabeculoplasty performed by five physicians, 94 eyes from 94 patients were included. A majority (83/92, 90%) underwent 180 degrees selective laser trabeculoplasty. Selective laser trabeculoplasty failure was defined in two ways: (1) IOP decrease <3 mm Hg (definition one), or (2) IOP decrease <20% (definition two), on two successive visits > or =4 weeks after SLT. RESULTS: Overall failure rates were 68% (64/94) and 75% (70/94) (by definitions one and two, respectively). By survival/life-table analysis, mean time to failure was 6 months and 5.5 months, by definitions one and two, respectively. By the end of the study (14.5 months), the failure rates were 86% and 92% by definitions one and two, respectively. By each definition, in both univariable and multivariable analysis, only lower baseline IOP was a significant predictor of failure. CONCLUSIONS: Selective laser trabeculoplasty had an overall low success rate in our tertiary clinic population, with overall failure rates of 68% to 74% in those who underwent 180 degrees selective laser trabeculoplasty.