Long-term visual field changes after femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery in glaucoma patients, case series.

PURPOSE: To assess the short and long-term changes in Visual Field (VF) Mean Deviation (MD), Visual Field Index (VFI), and intraocular pressure (IOP) after femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) in glaucomatous eyes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Interventional, prospective case series. Patients with glaucoma, who required cataract surgery were included. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmologic assessment and Visual Fields. FLACS was performed in all patients by a single experienced surgeon. IOP was measured during surgery immediately before and after pretreatment suction docking. Changes from baseline in VF MD and VFI, IOP, visual acuity (VA), and number of glaucoma medications were evaluated up to one-year follow-up. RESULTS: Fourteen eyes of 11 patients were included. Eighty-five percent were female, with a mean age of 74.2 ± 7.9 years. Nine (64.3%) and 5 (35.7%) were diagnosed with primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), respectively. We found a slight IOP reduction after the docking phase during FLACS in both glaucoma subtype groups. No significant changes in visual field mean deviation (MD) and visual field index (VFI) were found from baseline to 12 months after surgery in both groups. A significant reduction in IOP values was found in all cases from baseline up to one year follow up. No significant changes were observed in BCVA and number of topical glaucoma medications after one year in both groups. CONCLUSION: In our patients, there was an IOP reduction immediately after suction docking FLACS pretreatment. Mean IOP at final follow-up showed a reduction from baseline. There was no change in VF MD and VFI from baseline to final one-year follow-up. FLACS appears to be well tolerated in early and moderate glaucoma and appears to be a safe tool for glaucoma patients undergoing cataract surgery. Similar results to traditional surgery can be obtained with the advantages of femtosecond laser precision.

Transfixion technique for the treatment of silicone oil pupillary block glaucoma refractory to Nd-YAG iridotomy.

BACKGROUND: Pupillary block induced by silicon oil in vitrectomized patients is a common condition usually treated with Nd-YAG laser iridotomy or with surgical removal of silicon oil. CASE REPORT: A case of silicone oil pupillary block glaucoma successfully treated with a 30 G needle transfixion technique is described. We performed a non-complicated vitrectomy surgery for retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy that included lensectomy, inferior peripheral iridectomy, and silicone oil injection. After surgery, the iridectomy became occluded with fibrous tissue and the intraocular pressure raised to 50 mmHg. After an initial Nd-YAG iridotomy was unsuccessful, we passed a 30 Ga needle through the sclerocorneal limbus and cut the fibrous tissue that blocked the iridectomy. This procedure restored the aqueous humor flow through the iridectomy, pushed back the silicone oil bubble into the vitreous cavity and lowered the intraocular pressure to normal levels. CONCLUSIONS: 30 Ga needle transfixion technique could be an effective, low cost, simple alternative for the treatment of silicone oil pupillary block in aphakic patients.

ANTECEDENTES: El bloqueo pupilar secundario a aceite de silicón en pacientes vitrectomizados es una condición frecuente que normalmente se trata con apertura de la iridectomía con láser Nd-YAG o con el retiro del aceite de silicón. CASO CLÍNICO: Se describe un caso de glaucoma secundario a bloqueo pupilar por aceite de silicón tratado satisfactoriamente con técnica de transfixión con aguja de calibre 30. Realizamos una cirugía de vitrectomía sin complicaciones para el tratamiento de un desprendimiento de retina con vitreorretinopatía proliferativa, que incluyó lensectomía, iridectomía periférica inferior e inyección de aceite de silicón. Después de la cirugía, la iridectomía se ocluyó con tejido fibroso y la presión intraocular se incrementó a 50 mmHg. Después de que una iridotomía inicial con láser Nd-YAG no tuvo éxito, pasamos una aguja de calibre 30 a través del limbo esclerocorneal y cortamos el tejido fibroso que bloqueaba la iridectomía. Este procedimiento restauró el flujo de humor acuoso a través de la iridectomía, desplazando la burbuja de aceite de silicón a la cavidad vítrea, y la presión intraocular descendió a valores normales. CONCLUSIONES: La técnica de transfixión con aguja de calibre 30 puede ser una alternativa efectiva, simple y de bajo costo para el tratamiento del bloqueo pupilar con aceite de silicón en pacientes con afaquia.

Glaucoma Medication Preferences among Glaucoma Specialists in Mexico.

AIM: To determine the glaucoma specialists' preferences for the different brands of topical glaucoma medications available in Mexico. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A web-based survey was sent to 150 board-certified glaucoma specialists in Mexico, with 14 questions related to brand preferences for all glaucoma medications available in Mexico. Participants were asked to select each glaucoma medication class by brand and to state the factors leading to their choice. RESULTS: Data from 111 (74%) glaucoma specialists were collected. Imot (timolol 0.5%; Sophia, Mexico) was the preferred brand for the beta-blockers (BB) class by 71% (n = 79) of the participants. Azopt (brinzolamide 1%; Alcon Lab, US) was the preferred carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (CAI) by 54% (n = 60) of the glaucoma specialists. Lumigan (bimatoprost 0.01% and 0.03%; Allergan Inc., U.S.) was the first choice for the prostaglandin analogues (PGAs) in 62% (n = 70) of the answers. The most frequently prescribed alpha-agonist (AA) was Agglad (brimonidine 0.2%; Sophia Lab, Mexico) in 44% (n = 49) of the answers. Medication accessibility (31%), cost (29%), and recommended dose (23%) were the three main factors influencing the glaucoma specialists' preferences. CONCLUSION: Medication cost and accessibility, as well as posology, remain the main factors influencing brand preferences among glaucoma doctors. In our professional opinion, the therapeutic effect must be the leading factor when prescribing topical medications in the daily practice, so that patients receive the best treatment option. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This survey provides an understanding of the decision-making process when prescribing glaucoma medications by glaucoma specialists in a Latin American developing country. Ideally, patient treatment should be individualized and aimed to achieve the best results possible for their specific condition.How to cite this article: Lazcano-Gomez G, Alvarez-Ascencio D, Haro-Zuno C, Turati-Acosta M, Garcia-Huerta M, Jimenez-Arroyo J, Castañeda-Diez R, Castillejos-Chevez A, Gonzalez-Salinas R, Dominguez-Dueñas F, Jimenez-Roman J. Glaucoma Medication Preferences among Glaucoma Specialists in Mexico. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2017;11(3):97-100.

Resultados visuales de implante de lente trifocal en pacientes con glaucoma / Visual outcomes with trifocal lens implant in glaucoma patients

Objetivo: Evaluar los resultados visuales en pacientes con sospecha de glaucoma y glaucoma leve candidatos a cirugía de catarata e implante de lente intraocular trifocal. Diseño del estudio: Estudio longitudinal, prospectivo, experimental y analítico. Métodos: Se incluyeron pacientes con catarata y diagnóstico de glaucoma leve o sospechoso de glaucoma que contaran con campo visual, tomografía de nervio óptico y estudio de sensibilidad al contraste y se les realizo cirugía de catarata por facoemulsificación del cristalino con implante de lente intraocular trifocal AT LISA tri 839 MP. Resultados: Se incluyeron 9 ojos de 5 pacientes (4 mujeres y 1 hombre) entre los 66 y 87 años con un promedio de 73.2 ± 7.6 años. La agudeza visual prequirúrgica con corrección lejana fue de 0.29±0.16 LogMar (20/40), intermedia 0.67±0.49 LogMar (20/60), cercana 0.66± 0.57 LogMar (20/80); al mes postquirúrgico la agudeza visual con corrección lejana fue 0.08± 0.06 LogMar (20/25), intermedia 0.05± 0.06 LogMar (20/20), cercana 0.02±0.03 LogMar (20/20). Encontramos una mejoría estadísticamente significativa de la agudeza visual al mes de postoperatorio. En el análisis de la sensibilidad al contraste prequirúrgica y postquirúrgica, no observamos diferencias estadísticamente significativas en ninguna de las frecuencias espaciales (3cpg 1.32 ± 0.25 vs 1.34 ± 0.26, 6cpg 1.41 ± 0.30 vs 1.46 ± 0.28, 12 cpg 1.094 ± 0.42 vs 0.98 ± 0.37, 18cpg 0.69 ± 0.41 vs 0.60 ± 0.30). Conclusiones: Los resultados visuales obtenidos a diferentes distancias con el diseño trifocal indican que esta técnica emergente constituye una alternativa para la cirugía de catarata para pacientes candidatos con glaucoma leve o sospecha de glaucoma sin que el procedimiento altere su seguimiento ni modifique la sensibilidad al contraste.

Objective: To evaluate visual results in patients with glaucoma suspect and mild glaucoma, candidates for cataract surgery and trifocal intraocular lens implantation. Study design: Longitudinal, prospective, experimental and analytical study. Methods: We include patients with cataract and diagnosis of mild or glaucoma suspect who had a visual field, optic nerve tomography and contrast sensitivity study. They underwent to cataract surgery with trifocal intraocular lens implant (ATLISAtri839MP). Results: 9 eyes of 5 patients (4 women and 1 man) were included between 66 and 87 years, with an average of 73.2 ± 7.6 years. Preoperative visual acuity with distance correction was 0.29 ± 0.16 LogMar (20/40), intermediate 0.67 ± 0.49 LogMar (20/60), near to 0.66 ± 0.57 LogMar (20/80); the results per month were: the visual acuity with distance correction was 0.08 ± 0.06 LogMar (20/25), intermediate 0.05 ± 0.06 LogMar (20/20), near to 0.02 ± 0.03 LogMar (20/20). We found improvement in visual acuity at the month of postoperative, statistically significant. In the analysis of preoperative and postsurgical contrast sensitivity, we did not observe statistically signifi cant differences in any of the spatial frequencies (3cpg 1.32 ± 0.25 vs 1.34 ± 0.26, 6cpg 1.41 ± 0.30 vs 1.46 ± 0.28, 12 cpg 1.094 ± 0.42 vs 0.98 ± 0.37, 18 cpg 0.69 ± 0.41 vs. 0.60 ± 0.30). Conclusions: The visual results obtained at different distances with the trifocal design indicate that this emerging technique is an alternative for cataract surgery for candidates with mild glaucoma or glaucoma suspect; whereas the procedure does not alter follow-up or contrast sensitivity.

Achieving Target Pressures with Combined Surgery: Primary Patchless Ahmed Valve Combined with Phacoemulsification vs Primary Phacotrabeculectomy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ability of phacoemulsification combined with either primary trabeculectomy (PT) or primary Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation (PAVI) to achieve target intraocular pressures (TIOP) in adults with primary open angle glaucoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chart review of 214 adult patients operated between January 2002 and June 2008 with a minimum follow-up of 6 months. Group 1 comprised 181 eyes of 166 patients undergoing PT while group 2 included 50 eyes of 49 patients in combination with primary AVI. Target lOPs were pre-determined for each patient and success was defined as an IOP at or lower than target with or without medications. An IOP above target, loss of light perception or need for additional procedures to lower IOP were considered a failure. RESULTS: Mean preoperative IOP was 17.2 mm Hg in group 1 and 17.3 in group 2. Mean postoperative IOPs were 10.2 and 9.2 on day 1, 12.2 and 11.6 at year 1, and 10.7 in both groups at year 5. Survival rates in groups 1 and 2 were 96.7 vs 96% at 6 months, 89 vs 96% at 12 months, 83.5 vs 96% at 24 months and 79.4 vs 89.1% at 36, 48 and 72 months. Transient bleb leaks were more frequent in group 1 (26 eyes, 14.4 vs 0%, p = 0.001) and transient choroidal detachments were more frequent in group 2 (7 eyes, 3.9 vs 6 eyes, 12%, p = 0.038). CONCLUSION: Midterm results for achieving target pressures using combined phacoemulsification with either PT or PAVI are comparable. The profile of complications is different for the two procedures. How to cite this article: Albis-Donado O, Sánchez-Noguera CC, Cárdenas-Gómez L, Castañeda-Diez R, Thomas R, Gil-Carrasco F. Achieving Target Pressures with Combined Surgery: Primary Patchless Ahmed Valve Combined with Phacoemulsification vs Primary Phacotrabeculectomy. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2015;9(1):6-11.