Comparison of Bent Ab-interno Needle Goniectomy and Goniotomy in Primary Congenital Glaucoma: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: Primary Congenital Glaucoma (PCG) is a potentially blinding disease, and the search for the best surgical option always remains. This study investigated the efficacy of Bent Ab-interno Needle Goniectomy (BANG) compared to the established standard of traditional goniotomy. DESIGN: Parallel group Randomized Controlled Trial PARTICIPANTS: Infants with PCG aged one month to one year with similar clinical features in both eyes. INTERVENTION: The two eyes of eligible patients were randomized to either goniotomy or BANG using a 25-gauge needle bent as a reverse cystitome, and the surgeries were done on the same day in both eyes. Postoperatively each infant was followed up for a minimum period of one year. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes measured were intraocular pressure (IOP) control and the requirement for antiglaucoma medications (AGMs). The secondary outcome measures included corneal clarity enhancement, axial length stability, incidence of surgical complications or the need for repeat surgery. RESULTS: Eight infants with both eyes eligible, were included. In each infant, one eye was randomized to BANG and the other to conventional goniotomy. The mean age was 7.6±3.6 months. There was no significant difference in the mean preoperative IOP (16.8 +8.87 mm Hg versus 17+6.0 mm Hg; p=0.48) in eyes randomized to goniotomy or BANG. The mean number of AGMs (1.7±1.11 versus 2+0.81 respectively; p=0.26) were similar in both groups. Postoperatively, the IOP at 6 months (14.05 + 4.1 vs 16.2+4.07; p=0.22) and one year (15.3 ± 3.4 versus 17.1 + 3.0; p=0.15) were similar in eyes that underwent goniotomy or BANG respectively. Both procedures demonstrated significant improvements in corneal clarity and maintained normal axial length growth. However, the BANG group required slightly more AGMs than the goniotomy group. There were no serious complications in either group. Both eyes of one patient required repeat surgery for IOP control and underwent a combined trabeculotomy with trabeculectomy at nine months and one year post-operatively, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that goniotomy remains an effective surgical treatment for PCG. The absence of discernible superiority in IOP control or overall outcomes implies that the added complexity of excising the trabecular meshwork in BANG may not confer additional benefits over the established approach.

Globicatella sanguinis corneal abscess with endophthalmitis.

Globicatella sanguinis is a rare microorganism known to affect the bloodstream, urinary tract, and central nervous system. We report a case of Globicatella sanguinis ocular infection in a 9-year-old boy, who presented with a corneal abscess with endophthalmitis, following trauma. Isolation of the infection using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and determination of its antibiotic sensitivity via Vitek 2 highlight the important role of microbiology laboratories for the diagnosis and management of infections caused by atypical microorganisms.