The thick and thin of the central corneal thickness in glaucoma.

Central corneal thickness (CCT) is an important parameter in the assessment of any potential glaucoma patient. While it affects prognosis in ocular hypertension, its value in patients diagnosed with glaucoma is less certain. There are several biological factors and genetic components that may influence glaucoma progression, which have been associated with thinner CCT. The CCT itself can be affected by several factors including ethnicity, age, sex, glaucoma medications, genetics, and the subtype of glaucoma. Besides, there is variability in the measurement of CCT between difference types of devices. These factors need to be considered in the evaluation of glaucoma patients' CCT and its effect on interpretation of intraocular pressure levels and risk stratification.

Plateau iris in children.

Narrow iridocorneal angles, a very rare condition in the pediatric population, can lead to visual loss through angle closure glaucoma. In the workup for patients with narrow iridocorneal angles, plateau iris must be considered in the differential diagnosis. We describe 5 children with plateau iris, the youngest 5 years of age. All were confirmed using ultrasound biomicroscopy and were offered iridotomy for treatment.

Malignant glaucoma after cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To report a series of eyes that developed malignant glaucoma after cataract surgery. SETTING: Private academic practice, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Eyes that developed malignant glaucoma after cataract surgery were treated with medical therapy. This was followed by laser iridozonulohyaloidotomy, anterior chamber reformation and intraocular lens (IOL) pushback, and finally with surgical iridozonulohyaloidovitrectomy if all other measures were unsuccessful. Refraction, intraocular pressure (IOP), gonioscopy, and anterior chamber depth (ACD) by anterior segment optical coherence tomography were analyzed before treatment and after treatment. RESULTS: The study evaluated 20 eyes of 18 female patients aged 44 to 86 years. Preoperatively, the mean refraction was +3.11 diopters (D) ± 2.89 (SD), the mean axial length was 21.30 ± 1.40 mm, and all eyes had narrow or closed angles. Malignant glaucoma was diagnosed a mean of 5.8 ± 7.1 weeks postoperatively. At diagnosis, the mean refraction was -2.15 ± 2.95 D; the mean ACD, 2.49 ± 0.72 mm; and the mean IOP, 28.3 ± 10.8 mm Hg on a mean of 1.3 ± 1.6 medications. Two eyes responded to cycloplegia, 7 to laser iridozonulohyaloidotomy, and 6 to anterior chamber reformation-IOL pushback; 5 eyes required vitrectomy. Posttreatment, the mean refraction was -0.56 ± 1.07 D; the mean ACD, 3.30 ± 0.50 mm; and the mean IOP, 14.4 ± 4.60 mm Hg on a mean of 1.2 ± 1.4 medications. Cycloplegia was discontinued in 17 eyes. CONCLUSION: Malignant glaucoma can occur after phacoemulsification and presents with myopic surprise, anterior chamber shallowing and, possibly, elevated IOP. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Dysphotopsia after temporal versus superior laser peripheral iridotomy: a prospective randomized paired eye trial.

PURPOSE: To determine if the location of neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) is related to the occurrence of postoperative visual dysphotopsia. DESIGN: Randomized, prospective, single-masked, paired-eye comparative clinical trial. METHODS: setting: Private subspecialty clinic in Mississauga, Canada. study population: Patients with primary angle closure or primary angle-closure suspects were recruited and randomized to receive LPI temporally in one eye and superiorly in the other. Patients were masked to the location of treatment in each eye. intervention: Temporal or superior LPI. main outcome measures: Occurrence of new-onset linear dysphotopsia. Other visual disturbances also were assessed using a questionnaire before and 1 month after intervention. Secondary outcome measures included eyelid position, laser parameters, and any intraoperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 208 patients were recruited to the study, of which 169 (84%) completed it. New-onset linear dysphotopsia was reported in 18 (10.7%) eyes with superior LPI versus 4 (2.4%) eyes with temporal LPI (P = .002). Eleven eyes (6.5%) with superior LPI reported linear dysphotopsia despite complete eyelid coverage of the iridotomy. No significant differences were found with other visual disturbances between them. There was more pain experienced by the temporal LPI (2.8 ± 2.2 vs 2.1 ± 2.0; P = .001), despite no difference in laser energy or number of shots. Intraoperative rates of hemorrhage were similar (8.9% vs 10.1%; P = .71). CONCLUSIONS: Temporal placement of LPI is safe and was found to be less likely to result in linear dysphotopsia as compared with superior placement. Temporal iris therefore may be considered a preferred location for LPI.

Using multiple trabecular micro-bypass stents in cataract patients to treat open-angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of multiple trabecular micro-bypass stents combined with cataract surgery in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and cataract. SETTING: Private practice, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. DESIGN: Comparative case series. METHODS: Eyes with OAG had implantation of 2 or 3 micro-bypass stents with concurrent cataract surgery and follow-up through 1 year. Efficacy measures were intraocular pressure (IOP) and topical ocular hypotensive medication use. Safety assessment included complications and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA). RESULTS: The study comprised 53 eyes (47 patients); 28 had implantation of 2 stents and 25 had implantation of 3 stents. The overall mean 1-year postoperative IOP was 14.3 mm Hg, which was significantly lower than preoperative IOP overall and in each group (P<.001). The target IOP was achieved in a significantly higher proportion of eyes at 1 year versus preoperatively (77% versus 43%; P<.001). Overall, 83% of eyes had a decrease in topical ocular hypotensive medication at 1 year from preoperatively, with a 74% decrease in the mean number of medications (from 2.7 to 0.7) at 1 year (P<.001). The 3-stent group was on significantly fewer medications than the 2-stent group at 1 year (0.4 versus 1.0; P=.04). CONCLUSIONS: Using multiple micro-bypass stents with concurrent cataract surgery led to a mean postoperative IOP of less than 15 mm Hg and allowed patients to achieve target pressure control with significantly fewer medications through 1 year. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: Dr. Ahmed is a consultant to Glaukos Corp. No other author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

The SuperCrescent diamond knife: an innovative blade for glaucoma surgery.

Diamond blades have been used extensively in cataract surgery but their routine use in glaucoma surgery has been limited owing to the lack of controlled sharpness. The SuperCrescent knife is an ultrathin (100 µm) diamond blade that is an innovative modification of conventional blade design. Its pentium faceted trapezoidal design along with the square front surface area affords better control during dissection and has been used with success in both traditional trabeculectomies and nonpenetrating glaucoma procedures.

Ultrasound biomicroscopic analysis of iris-sutured foldable posterior chamber intraocular lenses.

PURPOSE: To report ultrasound biomicroscopic (UBM) findings of iris-sutured foldable posterior chamber intraocular lenses (PCIOLs). DESIGN: Prospective, noninterventional consecutive case series. METHODS: Fifteen eyes with foldable acrylic IOL implantation using peripheral iris suture fixation in the absence of capsular support were included. UBM was used to determinate the haptic position in relation to the ciliary sulcus and ciliary body in these eyes. Additionally, anterior chamber depth, lens tilt, site of suture fixation, focal iris or angle abnormalities, and relationship of iris to lens were determined. Main outcome measures were haptic position, anterior chamber depth, and iris anatomic changes. RESULTS: Of the 30 haptics imaged, 16 (53.3%) were positioned in the ciliary sulcus. Nine (30%) haptics were found over the ciliary processes, and 5 (16.7%) were over pars plana. No patients were found to have peripheral anterior synechiae present at the haptic position. The mean (+/- standard deviation) depth of the anterior chamber was 3.84 +/- 0.36 mm. The iris profile was altered in all patients at the iris-haptic suture fixation site. No angle abnormalities or tilted lenses were found. CONCLUSIONS: Iris-sutured PCIOL haptics were found to be in the ciliary sulcus or over the ciliary body with no significant tilt on UBM analysis. The procedure respects the angle anatomy, and no evidence of angle closure was found. The anterior chamber was deeper than has been reported previously for scleral sutured PCIOLs and was similar to that of pseudophakic eyes. This may have implications for surgical technique, IOL power calculations, and postoperative complications.

Cataract surgery in pseudoexfoliation syndrome.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To discuss the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative considerations and techniques for cataract surgery in pseudoexfoliation syndrome. RECENT FINDINGS: Pseudoexfoliation syndrome is a common disorder worldwide that has been linked to the lysyl oxidase-like-one (LOXL1) gene. Its identification in patients undergoing cataract surgery has become important in preventing complications through proper preoperative planning. The management of the small pupil found in pseudoexfoliation can be achieved using various pharmacological and mechanical techniques. There are now several devices available to support the weak zonules that commonly accompany pseudoexfoliation. Postoperatively, pseudoexfoliation patients need to be followed closely to monitor for complications such as intraocular pressure spikes, inflammation and intraocular lens dislocation. SUMMARY: With proper preoperative preparation, intraoperative use of appropriate adjunctive devices, and close postoperative follow-up, favorable outcomes can be achieved in cataract surgery in pseudoexfoliation syndrome.