Minimally invasive glaucoma procedure replicates trabeculectomy efficacy with superior safety profile
Twenty-two of 23 eyes with a trans-scleral micro-lumen aqueous drainage tube implanted after failing maximum tolerated medication were evaluable at 3 years.
TAKE HOME MESSAGE: Twenty-two of 23 eyes with a trans-scleral micro-lumen aqueous drainage tube implanted after failing maximum tolerated medication were evaluable at 3 years.
Reviewed by Juan F. Batlle, MD
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic-Implantation of a trans-scleral micro-lumen aqueous drainage tube (InnFocus MicroShunt, InnFocus)-as a standalone procedure or combined with cataract surgery-is safe and provides sustained lowering of IOP while reducing the need for medication, said Juan F. Batlle, MD.
Results from three years of follow-up in a prospective non-randomized trial were highlighted by Dr. Batlle, director, Centro Laser, and director, Elias Santana Charity Hospital, Santo Domingo.
Dr. Batlle is an investigator in the study enrolling 23 eyes considered eligible for trabeculectomy after failing maximum tolerated glaucoma medication. The trans-scleral aqueous drainage tube was implanted alone in 14 eyes and combined with cataract surgery in 9 eyes. In all cases, mitomycin-C (MMC) 0.4 mg/mL was applied intraoperatively for 3 minutes.
Twenty-two eyes were available for follow-up at 3 years. Mean IOP was 23.8 ± 5.3 mm Hg preoperatively and reduced at last follow-up by 55% to 10.7 ± 3.5 mm Hg. Mean daily medication use was reduced from 2.4 ± 0.9 to 0.5 ± 0.9.
Twenty-one (95%) eyes met the criteria for qualified success (IOP ≤ 21 mm Hg and ≥ 20% reduction in IOP from baseline with or without medication), and complete success, defined by the same IOP criteria without medication, was achieved by 16 (73%) eyes.
The most common complications encountered in the series were immediate postoperative hypotony, which occurred in 3 eyes (13%), and transient choroidal effusion in 2 eyes (8.7%). All of those events were transient and resolved spontaneously without sequelae, and there were no sight-threatening adverse events.
Internal server error