A Proposal for the Use of a Fixed Low-Energy Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty for Open Angle Glaucoma.

Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) has been in routine clinical use for over 20 years with millions of patients successfully treated and a low rate of clinically significant complications. The procedure requires the clinician to manually position the laser beam on the trabecular meshwork using a gonioscopy lens and to titrate the SLT laser energy based on the amount of pigmentation in the angle, as well as the observation of small bubbles produced by the laser effect. We propose that SLT energy titration is unnecessary either to achieve intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction or to minimize potential side effects. Ample evidence to support our proposal includes multiple clinical reports demonstrating comparable levels of IOP reduction resulting from different laser energies, a large variety of energy and other laser parameters used in commercially available SLT lasers, and the nature of the laser-induced changes in the trabecular meshwork tissue with respect to energy. Despite these variations in laser parameters, SLT consistently reduces IOP with a low complication rate. We propose that using low fixed energy for all patients will effectively and safely lower patients' IOP while reducing the complexity of the SLT procedure, potentially making SLT accessible to more patients.

Clinical Outcomes of Ahmed ClearPath Implantation in Glaucomatous Eyes: A Novel Valveless Glaucoma Drainage Device.

PRCIS: Designed with novel features to facilitate implantation and improve safety, the Ahmed ClearPath (ACP) glaucoma drainage device (GDD) provided intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction comparable with other GDDs in eyes with refractory glaucoma in a multicenter retrospective study. PURPOSE: To present clinical outcomes with a novel valveless GDD (ACP, New World Medical). The 250 and 350 mm2 models feature a contoured plate for optimal globe apposition, anteriorized suture points to facilitate suturing to the globe, and a prethreaded 4-0 polypropylene ripcord suture. METHODS: This was a multicenter retrospective analysis of eyes with medically and/or surgically uncontrolled glaucoma implanted with the 250 or 350 mm2 ACP either as a standalone procedure or in combination with other procedures. Pre-, intra-, and postoperative data through 6 months were collected. RESULTS: A total of 104 eyes (100 subjects) received the ACP by 10 US surgeons, 63.5% of which had primary open-angle glaucoma and 62.5% had severe glaucoma. Mean baseline IOP was 26.3 (9.0) mm Hg and mean medication use was 3.9 (1.3). Through 6 months' follow-up, mean IOP ranged from 13.6 to 16.7 mm Hg and mean medication use from 0.9 to 1.9 medications (P<0.0001 at all timepoints for each outcome measure). At 6 months, mean IOP was 13.7 mm Hg (-13.0 mm Hg, 43.0%, P<0.0001) and mean medication use was 1.9 medications per eye (-2.1, 47.7%, P<0.0001). Common adverse events included anterior chamber inflammation (16.3%), hyphema (15.4%), and hypotony (6.7%). CONCLUSION: The new ACP appears to be safe and efficacious as a standalone procedure or in combination with other procedures for uncontrolled glaucoma, and may be considered as a GDD option for patients in whom its unique design may facilitate the implantation process.

Glaucoma Prevalence and Glaucoma Surgical Considerations in Prosthetic Replacement of the Ocular Surface Ecosystem Device Use.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to identify patients with glaucoma and corneal/ocular surface disease who have been fit with Prosthetic Replacement of the Ocular Surface Ecosystem (PROSE; BostonSight, Needham, MA) devices and to understand the PROSE device fit experience in patients with glaucoma at Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM). METHODS: This is a retrospective chart review of patients older than 18 years who underwent PROSE device fitting at WCM. Records were reviewed for demographic information and ophthalmic variables. Descriptive statistics were performed. RESULTS: Between 2011 and 2017, 281 patients underwent PROSE device fitting at WCM, of whom 24 patients (8.5%) had a glaucoma diagnosis and 17 patients (6.0%) were identified as glaucoma suspect. Ocular surface disease was the most common indication for PROSE device wear (58.3%). Five patients had a history of incisional glaucoma surgery in the eye undergoing PROSE device fitting: three valved glaucoma drainage implants and two trabeculectomies. Three of these eyes were successfully fit with PROSE devices. CONCLUSIONS: Patients fitted with Prosthetic Replacement of the Ocular Surface Ecosystem devices at WCM had a higher prevalence of glaucoma than in the general population. Among patients with incisional glaucoma surgery, PROSE device fitting was challenging, with a 40% failure rate.

Adverse events associated with femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery reported to the MAUDE database.

PURPOSE: To report real-world complications associated with femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS). SETTING: Deidentified database. DESIGN: Retrospective review. METHODS: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database was culled for adverse events involving ophthalmic femtosecond laser during cataract surgery from January 2010 to January 2020. Reports in which the narrative description was inadequate to determine the nature of the complication were excluded. Each report was reviewed for complications, which were subsequently assigned to a complication category as determined by these authors. The number of events per year was determined and compared. RESULTS: Between January 2010 and January 2020, the MAUDE database search yielded 2927 reports involving femtosecond laser, of which 1927 met inclusion criteria and were included for analysis. These reports revealed 2704 complications: 1115 capsule tears (41.2%), 329 of which required vitrectomy, 372 instances of suction loss, 321 other capsulotomy-related complications, and 432 corneal or incisional complications. Rare complications included 54 reports of miosis, 16 reports of endophthalmitis, and 4 reports of toxic anterior segment syndrome. The number of events in the MAUDE database increased year over year between 2011 and 2017, peaking in 2017 at 303 events. CONCLUSIONS: By drawing on real-world data in the MAUDE database, this study identified the complications of greatest importance in clinical practice. Surgeons should be aware of the spectrum of possible complications to best prepare for all potential outcomes and to effectively counsel patients.

Overnight Safety Evaluation of a Multi-Pressure Dial in Eyes with Glaucoma: Prospective, Open-Label, Randomized Study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the safety and tolerability of the multi-pressure dial (MPD) worn overnight for seven consecutive days. DESIGN: Prospective, open-label, randomized, single-site study. SUBJECTS: Twenty eyes of 10 subjects with open-angle glaucoma were fitted with an MPD and randomized to negative pressure application of -10 mmHg in one eye (study eye) worn overnight for 7 consecutive days. METHODS: Safety measures included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP) changes from baseline during and after negative pressure application, slit lamp and dilated fundus exam findings, and rate of adverse events. Subjective assessments were completed daily by the subjects during the 7-day study period and immediately following the study period. RESULTS: Prior to the 7-day testing period, application of 10 mmHg negative pressure reduced mean IOP from 18.2 ± 3.8 mmHg to 14.0 ± 2.1 mmHg (p<0.01), a 22% reduction. After 7 days of consecutive nightly wear, repeat IOP measurements with the application of negative pressure showed a decrease in mean IOP from 16.9 ± 4.3 mmHg to 13.5 ± 3.7 mmHg. The observed IOP reduction was in addition to the subjects' current treatment regimen. There were no statistically significant changes in IOP, BCVA from baseline following the 7-day period of nightly wear with the application of negative pressure. The patient-reported outcomes were favorable. CONCLUSION: The MPD can safely and comfortably be worn overnight. The decrease in IOP of >20% in addition to current therapy is both clinically and statistically significant. The MPD shows promise as a potential new treatment option for nocturnal IOP control.

Trends in Authorship of Original Scientific Articles in Journal of Glaucoma: An Analysis of 25 Years Since the Initiation of the Journal.

PRéCIS:: Publications in glaucoma have seen an increase in the number of authors and disclosures per article, authors with dual degrees, and international authors, but contributions of women to articles published remains low. PURPOSE: Authorship trends have been studied across many medical specialties and in ophthalmology as a whole, but not specifically in glaucoma. The authors explored the authorship trends of original scientific articles in the Journal of Glaucoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors recorded the number of authors and disclosures per article, degree type of first and last authors, geographical origin of the corresponding author, and sex of first and last authors of original content from the Journal of Glaucoma published in 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012, and 2017. RESULTS: A total of 642 articles were analyzed. From 1992 to 2017, annual published articles increased from 38 to 242 (P=0.02), the mean number of authors per article increased from 3.2 to 5.2 (P<0.01), the mean number of disclosures per article increased from 0.3 to 1.0 (P=0.04), the proportion of first and last authors with dual degrees (medical plus advanced degrees) also increased (both P<0.03), whereas the proportion with a sole medical degree decreased (both P<0.05). There was a proportional decrease in articles from North America (P=0.03), and proportional increase from the "Far East" (P=0.04) and "Other" regions (P=0.04). No significant changes in proportions of female first and last authors were found (both P>0.28). CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with authorship trends across various other medical specialties, glaucoma has seen an increase in the number of authors and disclosures per article, authors with dual degrees, and authors from the "Far East" and "Other" regions. However, contributions of women to articles published in Journal of Glaucoma remain low.

Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy following radioactive iodine thyroid ablation.

This article evaluates the efficacy of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (eDCR) for nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) in patients exposed to radioactive iodine (RAI) for treatment of thyroid carcinoma. Retrospective chart review of 7 eDCR procedures was performed on 6 patients, aged 18 or older, with prior RAI treatment, who underwent eDCR between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2013 for treatment of epiphora due to NLDO. Average time to tube removal was 159 days, and average follow-up was 341 days. One patient noted complete epiphora relief at the time of their final visit. Partial symptom relief was noted by 3 patients, and recurrent epiphora was noted by 2 patients. In complex patients with RAI-associated NLDO, eDCR may be a reasonable option for relief of epiphora. Appropriate counseling, including the risks of incomplete symptom relief and need for additional surgery, should be discussed pre-operatively with these patients.

One Year of Glaucoma Research in Review-2013 to 2014.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to provide the practicing clinical ophthalmologist with an update on relevant glaucoma literature published from 2013 to 2014. DESIGN: This study is a literature review. METHODS: The authors conducted a 1-year (October 1, 2013, to September 30, 2014) English-language glaucoma literature search on PubMed of articles containing "glaucoma" or "glaucomatous" with title/abstract as a filter. Medical subject headings filtered searching was not performed because of the newness of the reviewed material. RESULTS: Literature search yielded 2314 articles, after which we excluded reviews and letters to the editor. We highlighted articles featuring new or updated approaches to the pathophysiology, diagnosis, or treatment of glaucoma and gave preference to human research. CONCLUSIONS: This review features literature that is of interest to ophthalmologists in practice and also highlights studies that may provide insight on future developments applicable to clinical ophthalmology.