Comparison of Conventional and Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery Regarding Macula Behavior and Thickness.

Background: The aim of the study was to compare macular thickness behavior and clinical outcomes after femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) versus phacoemulsification conventional surgery (PCS). Methods: Macular Optical Coherence Tomography OCT was analyzed in 42 patients preoperatively, 1 day, 12 days, 4 weeks and 6 weeks postoperatively according to the 9-field Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) grid. Clinical findings were collected in both the FLACS group and the PCS group. Results: There was no significant difference in macular thickness between the FLACS and PCS groups (p > 0.05). However, from postoperative day 12 onwards, there was a significant increase in macular thickness observed in both groups (p < 0.001). In the FLACS group, a significant increase in visual acuity was observed on the first postoperative day, as compared to the PCS group (p = 0.006). Conclusions: The use of a low-energy high-frequency femtosecond laser has potentially no effect on postoperative macular thickness. In the FLACS group, visual rehabilitation was significantly faster as compared to the PCS group. No complications occurred intraoperatively in either group.

Bowman Layer Transplantation for Treating Keratoconus-Preliminary Findings.

(1) Background: Mid-stromal isolated Bowman layer transplantation aims to reduce and stabilize corneal ectasia in patients with advanced, progressive keratoconus. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of this new surgical technique. (2) Methods: Following the PRISMA statement and checklist, we searched Medline, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and Embase and used a broad systematic search strategy according to the Cochrane Collaboration. (3) Results: Eight studies with a total number of 120 eyes of 106 patients met our inclusion criteria. One month after Bowman layer transplantation, patients with keratoconus showed a significant decrease in the measured simulated keratometry (-4.74 D [95% CI -6.79 to -2.69]) and the maximum keratometry (-7.41 D [95% CI -9.64 to -5.19]), which remained significant one year postoperatively (-2.91 D [95% CI -5.29 to -0.53] and -5.80 D [-8.49 to -3.12]). Intra- and postoperative complications were observed in 3% and 9% of the patients, respectively. An estimated success rate of 75% to 85% was achieved by experienced surgeons at 5 to 8 years postoperatively. (4) Conclusions: Bowman layer transplantation may be an effective and safe treatment option in patients with advanced, progressive keratoconus. Additional multicenter prospective interventional studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.

Surgical outcomes of excisional goniotomy using the kahook dual blade in severe and refractory glaucoma: 12-month results.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the efficacy and safety of goniotomy with trabecular meshwork excision using the Kahook Dual Blade (KDB, New World Medical Inc., Rancho Cucamonga, CA) in patients with severe or refractory glaucoma. METHODS: This retrospective multicentre case series reports on 40 eyes with severe or refractory open-angle glaucoma that underwent standalone or combined KDB goniotomy and were followed for 12 months post-operatively in the United-States, Mexico and Switzerland. Surgical success was defined as an intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction ≥20% from baseline at 12 months, with fewer medications than preoperatively. Mean IOP and antiglaucoma medication reduction, probabilities of achieving an IOP ≤16 or 18 mmHg, and adverse events were also analysed. RESULTS: Mean IOP decreased from 18.1 ± 5.0 mmHg at baseline to 14.8 ± 3.7 mmHg at 12 months (18.2% reduction, P < 0.001). Concomitantly, the mean number of glaucoma medications decreased from 2.5 ± 1.4 to 1.7 ± 1.2 (32% reduction, P = 0.002). The proportion of eyes achieving an IOP reduction of more than 20% from baseline was 37.5% (n = 15) at 12 months. At 12 months, 67.5% and 82.5% achieved a medicated IOP ≤ 16 and ≤18 mmHg, respectively. No severe complications were reported. CONCLUSION: Excisional goniotomy with KDB achieves a statistically significant IOP and antiglaucoma medication reduction in severe or refractory glaucoma over a period of 12 months. While its efficacy decreases with time, its favourable safety profile makes it a potentially useful primary or adjunctive procedure in high-risk eyes.

Outcomes of Deep Sclerectomy following Failed XEN Gel Stent Implantation in Open-Angle Glaucoma: A Prospective Study.

Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcome of deep sclerectomy (DS) as a secondary procedure following failed ab-interno XEN gel stent implantation in patients with open-angle glaucoma. Methods: Prospective, single-center, non-randomized, interventional study. Consecutive eyes that underwent mitomycin C (MMC) augmented XEN gel stent surgery, with uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP) or signs of disease progression, were included to undergo MMC-augmented DS. Primary efficacy outcome was surgical success, defined as complete when the unmedicated IOP was 12 mmHg or less, or 15 mmHg or less and 20% lower than at the timing of XEN failure and defined as qualified when the IOP fulfilled the same conditions with fewer medications than before deep sclerectomy. Secondary measures were mean reduction in IOP and in the number of medications, and the rates of complications. Results: Seventeen eyes were enrolled with a mean age of 72.1 ± 8.2 years (66.7% women). The mean follow-up was 20.1 ± 4.9 months, with more than 12-month data available from 15 eyes. Following DS, IOP decreased significantly from 22.6 ± 5.3 mmHg to 12.3 ± 5.5 (45.6%; p < 0.001). Antiglaucoma medications dropped from 1.1 ± 0.9 to 0.3 ± 0.7. Complete success was obtained in 40% of eyes using the threshold of 12 mmHg or less and a 20% decrease of IOP, and in 60% using the 15 mmHg or less threshold. Adverse events were observed in 20% of eyes (bleb leakage (13.3%); hypotony (6.7%)). No cases of choroidal detachment or hypotony maculopathy were reported. Conclusions: Failed XEN gel stent implantation does not seem to negatively affect the safety and efficacy of subsequent deep sclerectomy surgery.

Acute Serous Retinal Detachment after the Same Operating Session of Uncomplicated Cataract Surgeries: A Case Series.

PURPOSE: To report four cases of acute serous retinal detachment (ASRD) after the same operating session of uncomplicated cataract surgeries. METHODS: In this case series, data of patients who developed ASRD after uncomplicated phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation during the same operating session were collected. Diagnosis was made on the first postoperative day, when all patients had a very low best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), despite a good aspect of the anterior segment, without significant keratopathy and with only trace cells in the anterior chamber. Spectral-domain optic coherence tomography (SD-OCT) revealed serous retinal detachment with subretinal fluid accumulation in the macular area. Patients received a parabulbar injection of 40 mg/mL triamquinolone in addition to usual the postoperative topical treatment of 0.1% dexamethasone and 0.3% netilmicin eye drops. Patients were examined postoperatively on days 1, 3, 7, and 1 month. BCVA and central foveal thickness (CFT) measured by SD-OCT were evaluated at each visit. A relationship between demographics, preoperative ocular conditions, systemic diseases, parameters of surgery, and the development of ASRD was analyzed. RESULTS: After a single operating session of 10 uneventful cataract surgeries, operated by the same expert surgeon, on postoperative day 1, ASRD was detected in 4 patients (3 male, 1 female; mean age 71 ± 4.1 years). Preoperatively, the mean BCVA was 0.6 ± 0.1 decimals and mean CFT was 191.3 ± 13.7 µm. On the first postoperative day, mean BCVA was 0.01 ± 0.1 decimals, and all eyes had serous retinal detachment, with a mean CFT of 682.0 ± 97.4 µm. On the following visits, BCVA improved and CFT reduced significantly. On day 7, BCVA was at least 0.7 decimals in all eyes, with complete reabsorption of subretinal fluid. At 1 month, mean BCVA was 1.0 ± 0.0 decimals and no eye had recurrence of serous retinal detachment, with a mean CFT of 202.3 ± 26.7 µm. No relevant data were found on other parameters investigated. CONCLUSION: Acute serous retinal detachment is a rare event that can occur after uncomplicated phacoemulsification, which in our cases, resolved in a few days without recurrence.

Combined and stand-alone XEN 45 gel stent implantation: 3-year outcomes and success predictors.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the 3-year treatment outcomes of XEN 45 gel stent in open-angle glaucoma patients. METHODS: In this prospective, single-centre interventional study, consecutive eyes with uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP) or signs of disease progression despite medical treatment underwent XEN implantation either alone or combined with phacoemulsification (Phaco + XEN). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Surgical success was defined as 'complete' when 36-month unmedicated IOP was ≤15 mmHg with a relative IOP reduction ≥ 20% from medicated baseline, while the definition of qualified success allowed no more medications than at baseline. Other definitions of success with different IOP thresholds were also analysed. Secondary outcomes included mean IOP reduction, changes in ocular hypotensive medications and rates of reoperations. RESULTS: Out of 149 eyes initially included, 92 eyes (61.7%) of 68 patients had complete 3-year data (XEN: n = 26; Phaco + XEN: n = 66) after 38.2% were lost to follow-up. Mean age was 76.3 ± 9.1 years, and 66.2% were female. Mean medicated IOP decreased from 20.8 ± 7.4 mmHg (21.0 ± 7.4 [XEN] vs. 20.0 ± 6.9 mmHg [Phaco + XEN]) at baseline to 13.1 ± 3.4 mmHg (12.9 ± 2.9 [XEN] vs. 12.9 ± 3.4 [Phaco + XEN]) at 3 years (-37.0%; p < 0.001). Medications decreased from 1.9 ± 1.3 (2.4 ± 1.5 [XEN] vs. 1.9 ± 1.2 [Phaco + XEN]) to 0.4 ± 0.9 (0.3 ± 0.8 [XEN] vs. 0.5 ± 0.9 [Phaco + XEN]) (-78.9%; p < 0.001). Complete success and qualified success were achieved in 29.0% and 31.0% of eyes, respectively. Needling revision was performed in 51 eyes (55.4%), and 26.1% underwent reoperations. Risk factors for surgical failure included male gender (odds ratio [OR]:3.6; p = 0.03), diagnosis of POAG (OR: 4.5; p < 0.01) and undergoing needling revision (OR: 4.6; p < 0.01). While the type of procedure had no effect on the outcomes of PEXG, POAG eyes undergoing combined surgery had significantly higher rates of failure (OR: 7.29; p = 0.023). Most patients stable at 12-month remained so through to 3 years. CONCLUSIONS: At 3 years, XEN gel stent implantation achieved clinically significant IOP and medication reduction despite relatively high rates of needling and reoperations. Identifying patients at risk preoperatively may help optimize surgical outcomes.

XEN-augmented Baerveldt drainage device implantation in refractory glaucoma: 1-year outcomes.

PURPOSE: To evaluate outcomes of XEN-augmented Baerveldt drainage device implantation in refractory glaucoma and factors predicting surgical success. METHOD: All eyes undergoing XEN-augmented Baerveldt for refractory open-angle glaucoma at a tertiary glaucoma centre between January 2016 and November 2017 were retrospectively enrolled. Intraocular pressure (IOP), number of anti-glaucomatous medications and postoperative adverse events (AEs) were analysed for 1 year postoperatively. Surgical success was defined as achieving (1) an IOP ≤ 15 mmHg or (2) ≤ 18 mmHg, with or without (qualified) or without medications (complete). Any subsequent glaucoma surgery was considered failure. RESULTS: Out of 60 eyes enrolled, 12-month data were available for 41 eyes (71.4%). Mean age was 64.7 ± 23.1 years (50% female). Following surgery, IOP decreased significantly from a baseline of 29.9 ± 13.2 to 15.2 ± 6.6 mmHg (- 49.2%; P < 0.0001) at 12 months. Anti-glaucoma medications decreased from 3.0 ± 1.3 to 1.3 ± 0.9. Complete success was achieved by 14.6% of eyes using both the ≤ 15 mmHg and the ≤ 18 mmHg thresholds, and qualified success was achieved in 43.9% and 48.8%, respectively. Throughout the follow-up period, AEs were observed in 51.2% (hypotony = 24.4%; XEN blockage = 17.1%; displacement of XEN gel stent = 4.9%; hyphema = 4.9%). The 12-month success rate was significantly higher in patients who presented an IOP ≤ 10 mmHg at 1 week (58.6%, P = 0.001). Overall, 41.5% of patients required reoperation at 12 months (58.8% revision of the surgery; 41.2% transscleral cyclodestruction). CONCLUSION: XEN-augmented Baerveldt is a safe and moderately effective technique to reduce IOP and anti-glaucoma medications in refractory glaucoma. IOP at 1 week seems to be a predictor for surgical success. Nevertheless, a high proportion of patients requires reoperation.

Two-Year Outcomes of XEN Gel Stent Surgery in Patients with Open-Angle Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the 2-year treatment outcomes of the XEN gel stent (Allergan, Inc, Irvine, CA) in glaucoma patients. DESIGN: Prospective, single-center interventional study. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred forty-nine eyes of 113 patients with open-angle glaucoma. METHODS: Consecutive eyes with uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP) or signs of disease progression despite medical treatment were included to undergo either standalone XEN implantation or combined XEN implantation plus phacoemulsification surgery, both with mitomycin C injections. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary efficacy outcome was success, defined as complete when the unmedicated IOP was 12 mmHg or less, 15 mmHg or less, or 18 mmHg or less and 20% lower than at baseline over the 2-year period and defined as qualified when the IOP fulfilled the same conditions with fewer medications than at baseline. Secondary measures were mean reduction in IOP and in the number of medications and the rates of reoperations. RESULTS: One hundred nine eyes (84 patients; mean age, 74.3 years) underwent XEN plus phacoemulsification surgery and 40 eyes (29 patients; mean age, 74.7 years) underwent standalone XEN surgery. Overall, 129 eyes (86.6%; 96 eyes of 75 XEN plus phacoemulsification patients and 33 eyes of 24 XEN standalone surgery patients) completed the study. Mean medicated IOP was 20.0±7.5 mmHg at baseline and 14.1±3.7 mmHg at 2 years (P < 0.01), a 29.3% IOP reduction. Mean number of medications dropped from 2.0±1.3 before surgery to 0.6±0.9 at 2 years (P < 0.001). Complete success was achieved in 18.2% of eyes using the 12 mmHg or less and 20% reduction criteria and in 44.4% using the 15 mmHg or less threshold. Needling with mitomycin C was performed in 58 eyes (45%). In all, 11.4% underwent reoperations. CONCLUSIONS: After 2 years, XEN gel stent surgery achieved a clinically and statistically significant reduction both in IOP and the number of antiglaucoma medications, while requiring a high rate of needling interventions.

Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography Signs of Local Dilatation Effect of a Micro-Stent on Schlemm's Canal.

INTRODUCTION: The iStent inject® (Glaukos Corporation, CA, USA) is a relatively new device designed to be implanted ab-interno through the trabecular meshwork. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first in-vivo description of a trabecular bypass device visualised with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT), and report of its structural effect on Schlemm's canal. CASE REPORT: A 74 year-old female patient suffering from long-standing primary open-angle glaucoma and nuclear sclerosis underwent cataract surgery combined with the implantation of two iStent injects®. Surgery was uncomplicated and achieved intraocular pressure (-1 mmHg) and medication (-2 molecules) reduction at 6 months. Under AS-OCT (Spectralis OCT, Heidelberg Engineering AG, Germany) the stent appears as a 300 µm long hyper reflective hollow device within the trabecular meshwork. Approximately a third of it protruded into the anterior chamber. Profound OCT signal loss was notable within the shadow of the device. A second AS-OCT section 500 µm beside the microstent shows a markedly dilated Schlemm's canal, with a major diameter of 390 µm. DISCUSSIONS: This report confirms that AS-OCT is a suitable technique to assess microstent positioning, and provides a first report on the in-vivo appearance of a functioning stent. It also indicates that iStent injects® could have a tangible effect on adjacent portions of Schlemm's canal with, in this case, a 220% increase in canal diameter compared to the observed average (122 µm). This suggests the IOP-lowering effect of trabecular bypass devices could rely on a dual mechanism involving Schlemm's canal dilatation.