MERCURY-3: a randomized comparison of netarsudil/latanoprost and bimatoprost/timolol in open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

PURPOSE   : To compare the efficacy and safety of the fixed-dose combination (FDC) of netarsudil 0.02%/latanoprost 0.005% ophthalmic solution (NET/LAT; Roclanda®) with bimatoprost 0.03%/timolol maleate 0.5% (BIM/TIM; Ganfort®) ophthalmic solution in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT). METHODS: MERCURY-3 was a 6-month prospective, double-masked, randomized, multicenter, active-controlled, parallel-group, non-inferiority study. Patients (≥ 18 years) with a diagnosis of OAG or OHT in both eyes that was insufficiently controlled with topical medication (IOP ≥ 17 mmHg in ≥ 1 eye and < 28 mmHg in both eyes) were included. Following washout, patients were randomized to once-daily NET/LAT or BIM/TIM for up to 6 months; efficacy was assessed at Week 2, Week 4, and Month 3; safety was evaluated for 6 months. Comparison of NET/LAT relative to BIM/TIM for mean IOP at 08:00, 10:00, and 16:00 h was assessed at Week 2, Week 6, and Month 3. Non-inferiority of NET/LAT to BIM/TIM was defined as a difference of ≤ 1.5 mmHg at all nine time points through Month 3 and ≤ 1.0 mmHg at five or more of nine time points through Month 3. RESULTS: Overall, 430 patients were randomized (NET/LAT, n = 218; BIM/TIM, n = 212), and all received at least one dose of study medication. Efficacy analyses were performed at Month 3 on 388 patients (NET/LAT, n = 184; BIM/TIM, n = 204). NET/LAT demonstrated non-inferiority to BIM/TIM, with a between-treatment difference in IOP of ≤ 1.5 mmHg achieved at all time points and ≤ 1.0 mmHg at the majority of time points (six of nine) through Month 3. Mean diurnal IOP during the study ranged from 15.4 to 15.6 mmHg and 15.2 to 15.6 mmHg in the NET/LAT and BIM/TIM groups respectively, with no between-group statistically significant difference. No significant differences were observed in key secondary endpoints. No serious, treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were observed, and AEs were typically mild/moderate in severity. The most common treatment-related AEs were conjunctival hyperemia (NET/LAT, 30.7%; BIM/TIM, 9.0%) and cornea verticillata (NET/LAT, 11.0%; BIM/TIM, 0%). CONCLUSIONS: Once-daily NET/LAT was non-inferior to BIM/TIM in IOP reduction in OAG and OHT, with AEs consistent with previous findings. NET/LAT offers a compelling alternative FDC treatment option for OAG and OHT.

Postoperative Complications in the Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy Study During 5 Years of Follow-up.

PURPOSE: To describe postoperative complications encountered in the Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy (PTVT) Study during 5 years of follow-up. DESIGN: Multicenter randomized clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 242 eyes of 242 patients with medically uncontrolled glaucoma and no previous incisional ocular surgery, including 125 patients in the tube group and 117 patients in the trabeculectomy group. METHODS: Patients were enrolled at 16 clinical centers and randomly assigned to treatment with a tube shunt (350-mm2 Baerveldt glaucoma implant) or trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (MMC, 0.4 mg/ml for 2 minutes). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Surgical complications, reoperations for complications, visual acuity, and cataract progression. RESULTS: Early postoperative complications occurred in 24 patients (19%) in the tube group and 40 patients (34%) in the trabeculectomy group (P = 0.013). Late postoperative complications developed in 27 patients (22%) in the tube group and 32 patients (27%) in the trabeculectomy group (P = 0.37). Serious complications producing vision loss and/or requiring a reoperation were observed in 3 patients (2%) in the tube group and 9 patients (8%) in the trabeculectomy group (P = 0.11). Cataract progression was seen in 65 patients (52%) in the tube group and 52 patients (44%) in the trabeculectomy group (P = 0.30). Surgical complications were not associated with a higher rate of treatment failure (P = 0.61), vision loss (P = 1.00), or cataract progression (P = 0.77) CONCLUSIONS: A large number of surgical complications were observed in the PTVT Study, but most were transient and self-limited. The incidence of early postoperative complications was higher following trabeculectomy with MMC than with tube shunt surgery. The rates of late postoperative complications, serious complications, and cataract progression were similar with both surgical procedures after 5 years of follow-up. Surgical complications did not increase the risk of treatment failure, vision loss, or cataract progression.

Treatment Outcomes in the Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy Study after 5 Years of Follow-up.

PURPOSE: To report 5-year treatment outcomes in the Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy (PTVT) Study. DESIGN: Multicenter randomized clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 242 eyes of 242 patients with medically uncontrolled glaucoma and no previous incisional ocular surgery, including 125 patients in the tube group and 117 patients in the trabeculectomy group. METHODS: Patients were enrolled at 16 clinical centers and randomly assigned to treatment with a tube shunt (350-mm2 Baerveldt glaucoma implant) or trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (MMC) (0.4 mg/ml for 2 minutes). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was the rate of surgical failure, defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) > 21 mmHg or reduced < 20% from baseline, IOP ≤ 5 mmHg, reoperation for glaucoma, or loss of light perception. Secondary outcome measures included IOP, glaucoma medical therapy, and visual acuity. RESULTS: The cumulative probability of failure after 5 years of follow-up was 42% in the tube group and 35% in the trabeculectomy group (P = 0.21; hazard ratio = 1.31; 95% confidence interval = 0.86-2.01). At 5 years, IOP (mean ± standard deviation) was 13.4 ± 3.5 mmHg in the tube group and 13.0 ± 5.2 mmHg in the trabeculectomy group (P = 0.52), and the number of glaucoma medications (mean ± standard deviation) was 2.2 ± 1.3 in the tube group and 1.3 ± 1.4 in the trabeculectomy group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Trabeculectomy with MMC and tube shunt surgery produced similar IOPs after 5 years of follow-up in the PTVT Study, but fewer glaucoma medications were required after trabeculectomy. No significant difference in the rate of surgical failure was observed between the 2 surgical procedures at 5 years.

Treatment Outcomes in the Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy Study after 3 Years of Follow-up.

PURPOSE: To report 3-year results of the Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy (PTVT) Study. DESIGN: Unmasked multicenter randomized clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred forty-two eyes of 242 patients with medically uncontrolled glaucoma and no previous incisional ocular surgery, including 125 in the tube group and 117 in the trabeculectomy group. METHODS: Patients were enrolled at 16 clinical centers and were assigned randomly to treatment with a tube shunt (350-mm2 Baerveldt glaucoma implant) or trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (MMC; 0.4 mg/ml for 2 minutes). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was the rate of surgical failure, defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) of more than 21 mmHg or reduced less than 20% from baseline, IOP of 5 mmHg or less, reoperation for glaucoma, or loss of light perception vision. Secondary outcome measures included IOP, glaucoma medical therapy, visual acuity, and surgical complications. RESULTS: The cumulative probability of failure after 3 years of follow-up was 33% in the tube group and 28% in the trabeculectomy group (P = 0.17; hazard ratio, 1.39; 95% confidence interval, 0.9-2.2). Mean ± standard deviation IOP was 14.0±4.2 mmHg in the tube group and 12.1±4.8 mmHg in the trabeculectomy group at 3 years (P = 0.008), and the number of glaucoma medications was 2.1±1.4 in the tube group and 1.2±1.5 in the trabeculectomy group (P < 0.001). Serious complications requiring reoperation or producing loss of 2 or more Snellen lines developed in 3 patients (2%) in the tube group and 9 patients (8%) in the trabeculectomy group (P = 0.11). CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in the rate of surgical failure between the 2 surgical procedures at 3 years. Trabeculectomy with MMC achieved lower IOP with use of fewer glaucoma medications compared with tube shunt surgery after 3 years of follow-up in the PTVT Study. Serious complications producing vision loss or requiring reoperation occurred with similar frequency after both surgical procedures.

Treatment Outcomes in the Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy Study after 1 Year of Follow-up.

PURPOSE: To report 1-year treatment outcomes in the Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy (PTVT) Study. DESIGN: Multicenter, randomized clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred forty-two eyes of 242 patients with medically uncontrolled glaucoma and no previous incisional ocular surgery, including 125 in the tube group and 117 in the trabeculectomy group. METHODS: Patients were enrolled at 16 clinical centers and assigned randomly to treatment with a tube shunt (350-mm2 Baerveldt glaucoma implant) or trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (MMC; 0.4 mg/ml for 2 minutes). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intraocular pressure (IOP), glaucoma medical therapy, visual acuity, visual fields, surgical complications, and failure (IOP of more than 21 mmHg or reduced by less than 20% from baseline, IOP of 5 mmHg or less, reoperation for glaucoma, or loss of light perception vision). RESULTS: The cumulative probability of failure during the first year of follow-up was 17.3% in the tube group and 7.9% in the trabeculectomy group (P = 0.01; hazard ratio, 2.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.20-5.60). Mean ± standard deviation IOP was 13.8±4.1 mmHg in the tube group and 12.4±4.4 mmHg in the trabeculectomy group at 1 year (P = 0.01), and the number of glaucoma medications was 2.1±1.4 in the tube group and 0.9±1.4 in the trabeculectomy group (P < 0.001). Postoperative complications developed in 36 patients (29%) in the tube group and 48 patients (41%) in the trabeculectomy group (P = 0.06). Serious complications requiring reoperation or producing a loss of 2 Snellen lines or more occurred in 1 patient (1%) in the tube group and 8 patients (7%) in the trabeculectomy group (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Trabeculectomy with MMC had a higher surgical success rate than tube shunt implantation after 1 year in the PTVT Study. Lower IOP with use of fewer glaucoma medications was achieved after trabeculectomy with MMC compared with tube shunt surgery during the first year of follow-up. The frequency of serious complications producing vision loss or requiring reoperation was lower after tube shunt surgery relative to trabeculectomy with MMC.

In vitro and in vivo delivery of a sustained release nanocarrier-based formulation of an MRTF/SRF inhibitor in conjunctival fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Sustained drug delivery is a large unmet clinical need in glaucoma. Here, we incorporated a Myocardin-Related Transcription Factor/Serum Response Factor inhibitor, CCG-222740, into slow release large unilamellar vesicles derived from the liposomes DOTMA (1,2-di-O-octadecenyl-3-trimethylammonium propane) and DOPC (1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine), and tested their effects in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: The vesicles were spherical particles of around 130 nm and were strongly cationic. A large amount of inhibitor could be incorporated into the vesicles. We showed that the nanocarrier CCG-222740 formulation gradually released the inhibitor over 14 days using high performance liquid chromatography. Nanocarrier CCG-222740 significantly decreased ACTA2 gene expression and was not cytotoxic in human conjunctival fibroblasts. In vivo, nanocarrier CCG-222740 doubled the bleb survival from 11.0 ± 0.6 days to 22.0 ± 1.3 days (p = 0.001), decreased conjunctival scarring and did not have any local or systemic adverse effects in a rabbit model of glaucoma filtration surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates proof-of-concept that a nanocarrier-based formulation efficiently achieves a sustained release of a Myocardin-Related Transcription Factor/Serum Response Factor inhibitor and prevents conjunctival fibrosis in an established rabbit model of glaucoma filtration surgery.

Quantification of Postoperative Inflammation in Laser and Surgical Procedures for Glaucoma with Laser Flare Photometry: A Review of the Literature.

PURPOSE: To review the application of laser flare photometry (LFP) in the objective quantification of aqueous flare (anterior chamber inflammation) post laser and surgical procedures for glaucoma. METHODS: A search was undertaken using the following: PubMed (all years), the Web of Science (all years), Ovid MEDLINE (R) (1980 to 30 March 2023), Ovid MEDLINE (R) Daily Update 30 March 2023, MEDLINE and MEDLINE non-indexed items, Embase (1980-2021, week 52), Ovid MEDLINE (R) and Epub Ahead of Print, in-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations and Daily (1980 to 30 March 2023), CENTRAL (including Cochrane Eyes and Vision Trials Register), metaRegister of Controlled Trials (mRCT) (www.controlled-trials.com), ClinicalTrials.gov (www.clinicaltrial.gov) and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (www.who.int/ictrp/search/en). Search terms included "aqueous flare," "anterior chamber inflammation," "tyndallometry," "laser flare photometry" combined with "laser," "iridotomy," "trabeculoplasty," "cataract surgery," "phacoemulsification," "glaucoma surgery," "minimally invasive glaucoma surgery," "trabeculectomy," "aqueous shunt," "glaucoma drainage" and "cyclophotocoagulation." RESULTS: The majority of studies utilizing laser flare photometry in grading flare have been post laser trabeculoplasty. The degree of flare produced varies according to the type of glaucoma laser or surgery performed, with filtration procedures and glaucoma drainage devices having marked and prolonged detectable levels. Aqueous flare in cyclodestructive procedures positively correlated with intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction. CONCLUSION: In comparison to clinician grading, laser flare photometry provides a more objective measure of post-surgical inflammation in eyes that have undergone laser and surgery for glaucoma. Further research is warranted into how this instrument can be utilized to identify eyes at high risk of failure and other adverse outcomes after glaucoma surgery.

Effects of socioeconomic status on baseline values and outcomes at 24 months in the Treatment of Advanced Glaucoma Study randomised controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with late disease presentation and poorer outcomes. We evaluate the effect of SES on treatment outcomes and report the correlation between SES and baseline characteristics of participants in the Treatment of Advanced Glaucoma Study. METHODS: Pragmatic multicentre randomised controlled trial. Four hundred and fifty-three patients presenting with advanced open-angle glaucoma in at least one eye (Hodapp-Parrish-Anderson classification). Participants were randomised to either glaucoma drops (medical arm) or trabeculectomy (surgery arm). Clinical characteristics, Quality of life measurement (QoL) and SES defined by the Index of Multiple Deprivation are reported. Subgroup analysis explored treatment effect modifications of SES at 24 months. Correlation between SES and baseline characteristics was tested with the χ2 test of association for dichotomous variables and pairwise Pearson's correlation for continuous variables. RESULTS: The mean visual field mean deviation was -17.2 (6.7)dB for the most deprived quintile of participants and -13.0 (5.5) for the least deprived quintile in the index eye. At diagnosis, there was a strong correlation between SES and ethnicity, age, extent of visual field loss and number of visits to opticians prior to diagnosis. At 24 months, there was no evidence that the treatment effect was moderated by SES. CONCLUSIONS: In patients presenting with advanced glaucoma. SES at baseline is correlated with poorer visual function, poorer Visual Function Questionnaire-25 QoL, ethnicity, age and number visits to an optician in the years preceding diagnosis. SES at baseline does not have an effect of the success of treatment at 24 months. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN56878850.

Double scleral tunnel technique to prevent glaucoma drainage device exposure.

PURPOSE: To describe a new surgical technique designed to reduce the risk of tube exposure following glaucoma drainage device (GDD) surgery. METHODS: A retrospective, single-center study included all patients who underwent GDD surgery by a single surgeon between January 2018 and December 2019, using a double scleral tunnel technique to secure the tube to the sclera. A 23-gauge needle was used to create a 3 mm partial thickness scleral tunnel near to the GDD plate, with a second partial thickness scleral tunnel created 2.5 mm from the surgical limbus into the anterior chamber (AC). The silicone tube was passed through both scleral tunnels and into the AC. RESULTS: 46 GDD surgeries were performed during the time frame. The mean age of patients was 65 ± 13 years. Mean follow up duration was 27.7 ± 8.15 months (range 11 to 44). Significant reductions in intraocular pressure and number of glaucoma medications were achieved. Zero exposures were recorded occurring during follow-up. CONCLUSION: This double scleral tunnel technique to secure the GDD silicone tubing firmly to the sclera may reduce micro-movements which have been purported to be associated with tissue erosion post GDD surgery. The addition of this simple technique to existing GDD surgery may reduce the risk of post-operative tube exposure.