Cost-Comparison of Two Trabecular Micro-Bypass Stents Versus Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty or Medications Only for Intraocular Pressure Control for Patients with Open-Angle Glaucoma

Aim: Patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) whose intraocular pressure is not adequately controlled by one medication have several treatment options in the US. This analysis evaluated direct costs of unilateral eye treatment with two trabecular micro-bypass stents (two iStents) compared to selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) or medications only. Materials and methods: A population-based, annual state-transition, probabilistic, cost-of-care model was used to assess OAG-related costs over 5 years. Patients were modeled to initiate treatment in year zero with two iStents, SLT, or medications only. In years 1–5, patients could remain on initial treatment or move to another treatment option(s), or filtration surgery. Treatment strategy change probabilities were identified by a clinician panel. Direct costs were included for drugs, procedures, and complications. Results: The projected average cumulative cost at 5 years was lower in the two-stent treatment arm ($4,420) compared to the SLT arm ($4,730) or medications-only arm ($6,217). Initial year-zero costs were higher with two iStents ($2,810) than with SLT ($842) or medications only ($996). Average marginal annual costs in years 1–5 were $322 for two iStents,$777 for SLT, and $1,044 for medications only. The cumulative cost differences between two iStents vs SLT or medications only decreased over time, with breakeven by 5 or 3 years post-initiation, respectively. By year 5, cumulative savings with two iStents over SLT or medications only was$309 or $1,797, respectively. Limitations: This analysis relies on clinical expert panel opinion and would benefit from real-world evidence on use of multiple procedures and treatment switching after two-stent treatment, SLT, or polypharmaceutical initial approaches. Conclusions: Despite higher costs in year zero, annual costs thereafter were lowest in the two-stent treatment arm. Two-stent treatment may reduce OAG-related health resource use, leading to direct savings, especially over medications only or at longer time horizons

Combined endoscopic vitrectomy with pars plana tube shunt procedure

Purpose We report a case series of patients with limited fundus view due to advanced and complex anterior segment disease that underwent combined endoscopic vitrectomy and pars plana tube shunt for intraocular pressure (IOP) control. Methods The records of 13 eyes of 11 patients operated at Cincinnati Eye Institute from 2006 to 2010 with combined endoscopic pars plana vitrectomy and pars plana tube shunt placement were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative and postoperative IOP and visual acuity, clinical course and complications were noted. Results Nine eyes had aniridia, two had chemical burn injury, one had Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome and one had ocular trauma. Median follow-up was 18 months. Preoperative and postoperative mean LogMAR visual acuities were 1.42±0.9 and 1.24±0.7 (p=0.55). Preoperative mean IOP was 23±9 mm Hg and improved to 12±5 mm Hg postoperatively (p<0.0003). No complications were noted. Conclusions Endoscopic vitrectomy with pars plana glaucoma tube shunt implantation may be considered in the management of uncontrolled IOP in patients with media opacity. Achieving IOP control prior to attempted anterior segment reconstruction in these severely diseased eyes may increase the success rate and decrease the complexity of subsequent anterior reconstruction procedures

Ab-Externo MicroShunt versus Trabeculectomy in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma:One-Year Results from a 2-Year Randomized, Multicenter Study

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness and safety of the MicroShunt versus trabeculectomy in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Design: One-year results from a 2-year, prospective, randomized, multicenter, noninferiority study (NCT01881425) conducted in the United States and Europe. Participants: Eligible patients were aged 40-85 years with intraocular pressure (IOP) >15 and 20% reduction in mean diurnal IOP from baseline (no medication washout) at year 1 without increasing the number of glaucoma medications. Secondary effectiveness end points at year 1 were the mean IOP change from baseline and requirement for postoperative intervention. Additional end points included glaucoma medication use and adverse events. Results: Overall, 395 (MicroShunt) and 132 (trabeculectomy) patients were randomized (mean Humphrey visual field mean deviation, -12.34 decibels [dB]). At year 1, probability of success was lower in the MicroShunt group compared with the trabeculectomy group (53.9% vs. 72.7%, respectively; P < 0.01). In the MicroShunt group, mean IOP +/- standard deviation decreased from 21.1 +/- 4.9 mmHg at baseline to 14.3 +/- 4.3 mmHg (-29.1%; P < 0.01) at year 1, with a mean of 0.6 +/- 1.1 glaucoma medications (baseline 3.1 +/- 1.0; P < 0.01). In the trabeculectomy group, mean IOP decreased from 21.1 +/- 5.0 mmHg to 11.1 +/- 4.3 mmHg (-45.4%; P < 0.01), with a mean of 0.3 +/- 0.9 glaucoma medications (baseline 3.0 +/- 0.9; P < 0.01). Postoperative interventions, including laser suture lysis, were reported in 40.8% (MicroShunt) versus 67.4% (trabeculectomy) of patients (P < 0.01). Reported incidence of transient hypotony was higher in the trabeculectomy group versus the MicroShunt group (49.6% vs. 28.9%; P < 0.01). Vision-threatening complications were uncommon and reported in 1.0% of MicroShunt versus 0.8% of trabeculectomy patients. Conclusions: Probability of success was lower with MicroShunt compared with trabeculectomy. Although reductions in IOP and glaucoma medications over 1 year were observed in both groups, the trabeculectomy group had a lower mean IOP on fewer medications. Ophthalmology 2021;128:1710-1721 (c) 2021 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons. org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)