Impact of postoperative choroidal detachment on trabeculectomy outcomes: a four-year comparative study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare trabeculectomy outcomes in patients with and without post-operative serous choroidal detachment (CD) and establish an association between CD and trabeculectomy outcomes. METHODS: In this 4-year retrospective cohort study, medical records of glaucoma patients older than 18 who underwent primary trabeculectomy with Mitomycin-C between 2012 and 2020 were reviewed. Phakic eyes without history of any other intraocular surgery and with at least one year of follow-up were included in the study. Postoperative CD was defined as clinically visible CD developed within the first postoperative week. Cases were categorized into with and without CD and trabeculectomy outcomes were compared. Comparison was carried out using postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), glaucoma medications and surgery success. Two levels of success were defined regardless of glaucoma medications; criteria A) 5 < IOP < 19 mmHg and criteria B) 5 < IOP < 16 mmHg. In addition to the defined IOP ranges, IOP reduction less than 20% from baseline and further glaucoma surgery were also counted as surgery failures. RESULTS: Total of 183 patients including 153 without CD (mean age 58.73 ± 11.40 years, mean IOP 23.7 ± 6.63 mmHg) and 30 with CD (59.00 ± 12.59 years, mean IOP 22.2 ± 3.83 mmHg) entered the study. Post-trabeculectomy mean IOPs were significantly higher in the CD group at all follow-up visits at year 1 through 4 (14.70, and 14.82 mmHg vs. 11.03, and 12.59 mmHg; p-value < 0.05). Similarly mean number of glaucoma medications was higher in the CD group at all follow-up visits (p-value > 0.001). Based on success criteria A, cumulative probability of success for patients with CD wasn't significantly different compared to those without CD at years 1 through 4 (80.0%, and 69.6% vs. 88.2%, and 74.1% respectively; p-value > 0.05, log-rank). However, based on success criteria B, patients with CD had significantly lower cumulative probability of success at years 1 through 4 (50.0% and 8.9% vs. 79.7% and 59.8%, p-value < 0.001). CONCLUSION: We established that early post-trabeculectomy serous choroidal detachment is associated with adverse surgery outcomes. Lower rate of surgery success and higher mean postoperative IOP and glaucoma medications were observed in patients with post-trabeculectomy choroidal detachment and this was more pronounced in patients who required more stringent IOP control (success definition 5 < IOP < 16 mmHg).

The Effect of Early Posttrabeculectomy Bleb Leakage on Surgical Outcome: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of early posttrabeculectomy bleb leakage on trabeculectomy surgery outcomes and success rate. Methods: The present prospective cohort study was conducted on 203 eyes of 203 patients who underwent trabeculectomy at Torfeh and Imam Hossein Medical Centers, Tehran, Iran, between 2016 and 2021. Patients were divided into two groups: those with early bleb leakage (within the 1st month of surgery) and those without bleb leakage. The success rate of surgery was compared 12, 18, and 24 months after surgery in the two groups. The average intraocular pressure (IOP) and the need for medications in patients 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months after the trabeculectomy were also compared. Results: Bleb leakage was detected in 33 eyes during the 1st month after a trabeculectomy (16.3%). The mean decrease in IOP in the group with leakage was significantly lower than in patients without leakage at 1, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months after surgery (P < 0.05). The need for antiglaucoma medication was significantly higher among patients with bleb leakage at 3 months (P = 0.04) and 9 months (P = 0.047) after surgery (P < 0.05). The success rate at 12, 18, and 24 months after surgery was significantly lower in the group with leakage than the group without. Conclusions: The results of our study suggest that early posttrabeculectomy bleb leakage negatively impacts surgery success. Furthermore, IOP reduction was lower in patients with early leakage.

The effect of the hypertensive phase on the long-term outcomes of Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the long-term effect of hypertensive phase (HP) on the clinical outcomes of Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation. METHOD: The records of patients with different etiologies of glaucoma who underwent AGV implantation with at least 3 years of follow-up were retrospectively reviewed. HP was defined as the IOP > 21 mm Hg during the first three months after surgery. The main outcome measure was cumulative success defined as 5 < IOP ≤ 21 mmHg and 20% reduction from the baseline with or without IOP lowering medications. Results that do not achieve cumulative success or undergo glaucoma reoperation during the follow-up period are considered failures. The secondary outcome measures were intraocular pressure (IOP) and the number of glaucoma medications. RESULTS: A total of 120 patients (28 patients of HP, 92 patients without HP) with an average age (± SD) of 48.9 ± 19.6 years and a mean follow-up of 4.5 ± 1.4 years were enrolled. The mean duration of survival was 5.3 ± 0.5 years in HP which was significantly shorter than 6.4 ± 0.2 years in non-HP (log rank = 4.2, P = 0.04). Mean IOP and number of IOP lowering agents were higher in postoperative visits at 1,2, 3, and 4 years in HP patients compared with non-HP (all Ps < 0.01). Higher baseline IOP was significantly associated with higher rates of surgical failure. CONCLUSION: In the long-term follow-up, the duration of survival was significantly longer in the non-HP group. In the non-HP group, the failure rate was significantly lower than the HP group.

Electrodiagnostic signs of carpal tunnel syndrome in ocular pseudoexfoliation syndrome.

PURPOSE: To assess the occurrence and severity of electrodiagnostic signs of carpal tunnel syndrome (ED-CTS) in patients with ocular pseudoexfoliation (PEX) and compare them with normal subjects. METHOD: A cross-sectional study with comparison group was designed and 60 patients with PEX were recruited from May 2019 to February 2021, and the findings were compared with 59 healthy subjects. All patients underwent complete ophthalmologic examination and nerve conduction velocity test at the median nerve was used to assess the occurrence and severity of ED-CTS in both hands. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 59.8 ± 4.5 years. Occurrence of ED-CTS was 38.3% in PEX patients and 20.3% in control subjects (P = 0.025). There was also a significant difference in the severityand presence of asymptomatic CTS (P < 0.05). Adjusting other variables, including; age and sex, having severe ED-CTS showed a 3.07fold higher chance in the PEX group (P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: According to our finding, it seems there is a direct association between PEX and the occurrence, as well as severity of ED-CTS.

Is post-trabeculectomy serous choroidal detachment a risk factor for failure in the long term.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the long-term effect of serous choroidal detachment on the success of trabeculectomy in glaucoma patients. METHODS: In this case-control study, 17 patients who underwent trabeculectomy and developed choroidal detachment, and completed at least 3 years of follow-up were included. The controls were matched based on age, sex, preoperative intraocular pressure, and glaucoma type, and lack of choroidal detachment. Surgical success was defined based on two definitions of 5 < IOP < 16 and 20% reduction from the baseline and no need for further glaucoma surgery and all the same but 5 < IOP < 22. RESULTS: The mean estimated duration of survival ±SD was 2.73 ± 0.35 years (CI 95% 2.1, 3.4), which was significantly shorter than 3.98 ± 0.38 years (CI 95% 3.3, 4.7) in the control group. (LogRank = 5.03 p = 0.02). Cumulative probability of success was 76.5%, 52.9%, 29.4%, 17.6%, and 11.8% in year 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 in the case group, respectively. Corresponding values were 88.2%, 82.4%, 68.6%, 58.8%, and 47.1%. In the control group, respectively. At baseline, average IOP was 22.3 ± 2.7 and 23.8 ± 8.3 mmHg in the case and control groups, respectively (p = 0.17). Mean IOP was significantly higher in the case group than in the control group in years 2, 3, 4, and 5. CONCLUSION: Serous choroidal detachment affects the long-term surgical success of trabeculectomy, especially in patients with advanced glaucoma when lower target pressure is required.

Pretreatment with frequent topical betamethasone in Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of pretreatment with topical betamethasone in Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-two eyes from 62 patients undergoing AGV. METHODS: We randomly assigned patients undergoing AGV to 2 arms of the study. The case group received AGV implantation with preoperative betamethasone eye drops, and the control group did not receive preoperative betamethasone. Follow-up examinations were performed on postoperative day 1, at least weekly for 4 weeks, and then every 1 to 3 months. Our main outcome measure was the rate of success, defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) <15 mm Hg and IOP ≤18 mm Hg. RESULTS: We analyzed 62 eyes divided to case (n = 33) and control (n = 29) groups. The success rate was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group at 12 months postoperatively when considering either IOP < 15 or IOP < 18 mm Hg as success (p < 0.001) and also at 6 months when considering IOP < 18 mm Hg as success (p < 0.041). The reduction in the number of antiglaucoma medications used postoperatively was significantly higher in the betamethasone group at follow-up at 1 and 3 months and 1 year. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment with topical betamethasone in AGV implantations increases the success rate and reduces the need for medications.

The role of primary needle revision after Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of primary needle revision after Ahmed Glaucoma Valve (AGV) implantation in comparison with glaucoma medication use. METHODS: In this interventional case series, 23 eyes of 23 patients who underwent AGV implantation were enrolled. Needle revision was performed when the intraocular pressure was higher than the target pressure before glaucoma medications. Using a 30-gauge needle, the Tenon's capsule over the plate was incised and the bleb was reformed. Patients were examined on a postoperative day one, weekly (for four weeks), and every 1-3 months. Two criteria were used to define cumulative success as a minimum 20% reduction in IOP and 5 < IOP ≤ 21 mmHg (Criteria A) or 5 < IOP ≤ 18 mmHg (Criteria B) without (Complete success) or with (Qualified success) glaucoma medication. RESULTS: In this pilot study, we enrolled 23 patients with a mean age of 53.8 ± 12.4 years (25-78 years) who underwent AGV implantation and a one-year follow-up period. The mean number of primary needle revision was 2.2 ± 1.6 (1-6). One year postoperatively, the cumulative success rate was 91.4% and 86.9% based on Criteria A and B, respectively. The average of preoperative IOP was 28.26 ± 8.86 mmHg (range 15-46 mmHg), reaching 13.78 ± 3.54 mmHg (range 8-20) at the end of the one-year follow-up. (P < 0.001) The mean preoperative medication significantly decreased from a median of 4 (range 3-4) at baseline to 2 (range 1-4) after the one-year follow-up (P < 0.001). One patient experienced leakage over the plate, which was successfully treated via conservative management. CONCLUSION: This pilot study showed that primary needle revision is a safe and effective method for controlling IOP after AGV implantation with a lower need for medication.

Surgical management of glaucoma in Fuchs uveitis syndrome: Trabeculectomy or Ahmed glaucoma valve.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome of trabeculectomy versus Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) surgery in patients with Fuchs uveitis Syndrome (FUS). METHODS: Twenty-eight eyes with uncontrolled glaucoma and at least 6 months of follow-up were enrolled. In 16 eyes trabeculectomy and in 12 eyes AGV implant were performed. The primary outcome measure was surgical success defined as 5 < intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤ 21 mmHg (criterion A) and 5 < IOP ≤ 16 mmHg (criterion B), with at least 20% reduction in IOP, either with no medication (complete success) or with no more than preoperative medications (qualified success). The sum of complete and qualified success was defined as cumulative success. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients in the trabeculectomy group and the AGV group was 44.92 ± 9.02 and 45.76 ± 7.10 years, respectively (P = 0.79). The mean duration of follow-up was 23.06 ± 12.03 months in the trabeculectomy group and 22.83 ± 13.63 months in the AGV group (P = 0.96). The baseline mean IOP in trabeculectomy was 26.81 ± 6.69 mmHg which decreased to 11.61 ± 4.15 mmHg at last visit (P < 0.001). In the AGV group, mean IOP was 31.41 ± 6.76 at baseline that changed to 22.41 ± 5.09 at last visit (P = 0.005). According to criterion A, cumulative success rates were 100% and 91% at 6 months and 76% and 9% at 36 months in the trabeculectomy and the AGV group, respectively. Cumulative success rates at 6 months were 93% and 58% and 65% and 7% at 36 months according to criterion B in the trabeculectomy and the AGV group, respectively.Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed a significant association between surgical method and cumulative success rate over 36 months (based on criteria A: P = 0.02, and based on criteria B: P = 0.007). CONCLUSION: The success rate of trabeculectomy was higher than AGV in the surgical management of glaucoma in FUS during a medium-term follow-up.

Effect of subconjunctival Bevacizumab injection on the outcome of Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation: a randomized control trial.

IMPORTANCE: The effect of subconjunctival Bevacizumab injection on the outcome of Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation. BACKGROUND: Evaluation of efficacy and safety of subconjunctival Bevacizumab injection adjunctive to AGV implantation. DESIGN: Prospective and randomized clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty eyes of 50 patients with diagnosis of glaucoma that were candidate for AGV surgery were included. METHODS: In 25 eyes, conventional AGV surgery (group 1) and in 25 eyes AGV surgery with subconjunctival Bevacizumab (group 2) was performed by block randomization MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was surgical success. Outcome measures were compared at postoperative month 3, 6 and 12. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 58.76 ± 12.11 and 51.36 ± 15.44 years in group 1 and 2 respectively (P = 0.06). Mean intraocular pressure (IOP) at baseline was 24.88 ± 7.62 mmHg in group 1 and 27.52 ± 8.57 mmHg in group 2 which decreased to15.4 ± 4.4 mmHg in group 1 and 13.42 ± 2.9 mmHg in group 2 (P < 0.00) at last follow up. Surgical success was defined in two level: postoperative IOP ≤ 21 mmHg with at least 20% reduction in IOP (Criterion A), either with no medication (complete success) or with no more than two medications (qualified success) and criterion B with the same definition but the IOP ≤ 18 mmHg The cumulative success according to criterion A and B was 77.8%, 72.2% in group 1 and 89.5% in group 2, respectively, at the end of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Subconjunctival injection of Bevacizumab adjunctive to AGV implantation leads to higher success rate compared with AGV alone in one year follow-up.

Comparison of the long-term outcomes of resident versus attending performed trabeculectomy.

PURPOSE: To compare the long-term outcomes obtained by residents and attending surgeons performing trabeculectomy. METHODS: After reviewing medical records of the patients, 41 residents performing trabeculectomy under supervision of attendings were compared to 41 attendings performing trabeculectomy. The primary outcome measure was the surgical success defined in terms of intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤ 21 mmHg (criterion A) and IOP ≤ 16 mmHg (criterion B), with at least 20% reduction in IOP, either with no medication (complete success) or with no more than 2 medications (qualified success). IOP, number of glaucoma medications, surgical complications, and visual acuity were analyzed as secondary outcome measures. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 59.5 ± 8.6 years in the resident group and 59.6 ± 12.31 years in the attending group (P = 0.96). Furthermore, mean duration of the follow-up was 62.34 ± 5.51 months in the resident group and 64.80 ± 7.80 months in the attending group (P = 0.10). The cumulative success according to criterion A was 87.8% in the resident group and 85.3% in the attending group (P = 0.50). Moreover, according to criterion B, it was 87.8% and 83% in the resident and attending groups, respectively (P = 0.62). Repeated glaucoma surgery was required in 12.2% and 2.4% of the patients in the resident and attending groups, respectively (P = 0.09). Rate of complications was 12.2% and 4.8% in the resident and attending groups, respectively (P = 0.23). CONCLUSION: There were comparable results with respect to success rates and complications between residents and attending surgeons performing trabeculectomy in the long-term follow-up.

Evaluation of success after second Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome of the second Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) surgery in eyes with failed previous AGV surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Following chart review, 36 eyes of 34 patients with second AGV implantation were enrolled in this study. The primary outcome measure was surgical success defined in terms of intraocular pressure (IOP) control using two criteria: Success was defined as IOP ≤21 mmHg (criterion 1) and IOP ≤16 mmHg (criterion 2), with at least 20% reduction in IOP, either with no medication (complete success) or with no more than two medications (qualified success). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to determine the probability of surgical success. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 32.7 years (range 4-65), and the mean duration of follow-up was 21.4 months (range 6-96). Preoperatively, the mean IOP was 26.94 mmHg (standard deviation [SD] 7.03), and the patients were using 2.8 glaucoma medications on average (SD 0.9). The mean IOP decreased significantly to 13.28 mmHg (SD 3.59) at the last postoperative visit (P = 0.00) while the patients needed even fewer glaucoma medications on average (1.4 ± 1.1, P = 0.00). Surgical success of second glaucoma drainage devices (Kaplan-Meier analysis), according to criterion 1, at 6, 12, 18, and 42 months was 94%, 85%, 80%, and 53% respectively, and according to criterion 2, was 94%, 85%, 75%, and 45%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Repeated AGV implantation seems to be a safe modality of treatment with acceptable success rate in cases with failed previous AGV surgery.

Comparison between visual field defect in pigmentary glaucoma and primary open-angle glaucoma.

To compare visual field defect patterns between pigmentary glaucoma and primary open-angle glaucoma. Retrospective, comparative study. Patients with diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and pigmentary glaucoma (PG) in mild to moderate stages were enrolled in this study. Each of the 52 point locations in total and pattern deviation plot (excluding 2 points adjacent to blind spot) of 24-2 Humphrey visual field as well as six predetermined sectors were compared using SPSS software version 20. Comparisons between 2 groups were performed with the Student t test for continuous variables and the Chi-square test for categorical variables. Thirty-eight eyes of 24 patients with a mean age of 66.26 ± 11 years (range 48-81 years) in the POAG group and 36 eyes of 22 patients with a mean age of 50.52 ± 11 years (range 36-69 years) in the PG group were studied. (P = 0.00). More deviation was detected in points 1, 3, 4, and 32 in total deviation (P = 0.03, P = 0.015, P = 0.018, P = 0.023) and in points 3, 4, and 32 in pattern deviation (P = 0.015, P = 0.049, P = 0.030) in the POAG group, which are the temporal parts of the field. It seems that the temporal area of the visual field in primary open-angle glaucoma is more susceptible to damage in comparison with pigmentary glaucoma.

Subconjunctival bevacizumab versus mitomycin C adjunctive to trabeculectomy.

PURPOSE: To compare the outcome of trabeculectomy with subconjunctival bevacizumab with that of trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (MMC). DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, comparative study. METHODS: Thirty-six eyes from 34 patients with uncontrolled glaucoma were enrolled. Eighteen eyes underwent trabeculectomy with subconjunctival bevacizumab injection (2.5 mg/0.1 mL), and 18 eyes underwent trabeculectomy with MMC (0.02% for 3 minutes). The outcome measures were the best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), number of IOP-lowering medications, complications, and bleb morphologic features (based on the Indiana Bleb Appearance Grading Scale). RESULTS: The mean follow-up times for the MMC and bevacizumab groups were 7.8 ± 2.2 months and 7.4 ± 24 months, respectively (P = .62). The mean preoperative IOP in the bevacizumab group improved from 21.9 ± 7.9 mm Hg with 2.7 ± 0.8 antiglaucoma medications to 13.6 ± 3.2 mm Hg with 0.2 ± 0.5 antiglaucoma medications at the last visit (P < .001 and P < .001, respectively). The mean preoperative IOP in the MMC group improved from 23.3 ± 4.9 mm Hg with 2.6 ± 0.7 antiglaucoma medications to 9.6 ± 2.7 mm Hg with no antiglaucoma medications at the final visit (P < .001 and P < .001, respectively). There was a statistically significant difference in the IOP between the 2 groups at the last visit (P < .001). The cumulative probabilities of total success at the last follow-up according to Kaplan-Meier analysis were 100% and 94.4% in bevacizumab and MMC groups, respectively (P = .32, log-rank test). CONCLUSIONS: Adjunctive subconjunctival bevacizumab with trabeculectomy is effective in controlling the IOP profile; however, its effect is less prominent than that of MMC.