Safety and Efficacy of Microinvasive Glaucoma Surgery

Microinvasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) is emerging as a new therapeutic option for glaucoma patients who wish to reduce their medication burden and avoid the postoperative complications of conventional glaucoma filtration surgery. These devices differ in terms of their efficacy and safety profile. Schlemm’s canal devices have the most favorable safety profile at the compromise of modest efficacy, while subconjunctival and suprachoroidal devices are potentially more effective at lowering the intraocular pressure at the expense of a higher rate of complications. This review consolidates the latest evidence on the efficacy and safety of the MIGS devices in clinical use and provides an overview on upcoming devices which would likely also become viable treatment options in the near future. These clinical data would assist a glaucoma surgeon in selecting the most appropriate MIGS device for each patient based on the glaucoma severity and patient expectations

Highlights from the 2019 International Myopia Summit on 'controversies in myopia'.

Myopia is an emerging public health issue with potentially significant economic and social impact, especially in East Asia. However, many uncertainties about myopia and its clinical management remain. The International Myopia Summit workgroup was convened by the Singapore Eye Research Institute, the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness in 2019. The aim of this workgroup was to summarise available evidence, identify gaps or unmet needs and provide consensus on future directions for clinical research in myopia. In this review, among the many 'controversies in myopia' discussed, we highlight three main areas of consensus. First, development of interventions for the prevention of axial elongation and pathologic myopia is needed, which may require a multifaceted approach targeting the Bruch's membrane, choroid and/or sclera. Second, clinical myopia management requires co-operation between optometrists and ophthalmologists to provide patients with holistic care and a tailored approach that balances risks and benefits of treatment by using optical and pharmacological interventions. Third, current diagnostic technologies to detect myopic complications may be improved through collaboration between clinicians, researchers and industry. There is an unmet need to develop new imaging modalities for both structural and functional analyses and to establish normative databases for myopic eyes. In conclusion, the workgroup's call to action advocated for a paradigm shift towards a collaborative approach in the holistic clinical management of myopia

Optical coherence tomography angiography in dural carotid-cavernous sinus fistula

10.1186/s12886-016-0278-1BMC Ophthalmology1619

Two-year results of a multicenter study of the ab interno gelatin implant in medically uncontrolled primary open-angle glaucoma

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of an ab interno subconjunctival gelatin implant as primary surgical intervention in reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) and IOP-lowering medication count in medically uncontrolled moderate primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). METHODS: In this prospective, non-randomized, open-label, multicenter, 2-year study, eyes with medicated baseline IOP 18-33 mmHg on 1-4 topical medications were implanted with (phaco + implant) or without (implant alone) phacoemulsification. Changes in mean IOP and medication count at months 12 (primary outcomes) and 24, clinical success rate (eyes [%] achieving ≥ 20% IOP reduction from baseline on the same or fewer medications without glaucoma-related secondary surgical intervention), intraoperative complications, and postoperative adverse events were assessed. RESULTS: The modified intent-to-treat population included 202 eyes (of 218 implanted). Changes (standard deviation) in mean IOP and medication count from baseline were - 6.5 (5.3) mmHg and - 1.7 (1.3) at month 12 and - 6.2 (4.9) mmHg and - 1.5 (1.4) at month 24, respectively (all P < 0.001). Mean medicated baseline IOP was reduced from 21.4 (3.6) to 14.9 (4.5) mmHg at 12 months and 15.2 (4.2) mmHg at 24 months, with similar results in both treatment groups. The clinical success rate was 67.6% at 12 months and 65.8% at 24 months. Overall, 51.1 (12 months) and 44.7% (24 months) of eyes were medication-free. The implant safety profile compared favorably with that published for trabeculectomy and tube shunts. CONCLUSIONS: The gelatin implant effectively reduced IOP and medication needs over 2 years in POAG uncontrolled medically, with an acceptable safety profile. ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT02006693 (registered in the USA).status: publishe

Complications and outcomes of primary phacotrabeculectomy with mitomycin C in a multi-ethnic asian population.

PURPOSE:To determine the occurrence of intraoperative and postoperative complications up to three years after primary phacotrabeculectomy with intraoperative use of Mitomycin C (MMC) in primary open angle (POAG) and primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) patients, and the effect of postoperative complications on surgical outcome. METHODS:Retrospective review of 160 consecutive patients with POAG (n = 105) and PACG (n = 55), who underwent primary phacotrabeculectomy with MMC at the National University Hospital, Singapore, from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010. Data was collected using a standardized form that included patient demographic information, ocular characteristics and postoperative complications, including hypotony (defined as intraocular pressure < 6 mmHg), shallow anterior chamber (AC) and hyphema. RESULTS:The mean age ± standard deviation (SD) of patients was 68.2 ± 8.2 years. No patient lost light perception during duration of follow-up. 77% of the postoperative complications occurred within the first month only. The commonest complications were hypotony (n = 41, 25.6%), hyphema (n = 16, 10.0%) and shallow AC (n = 16, 10.0%). Five patients (3.1%) required reoperation for their complications. Early hypotony (defined as hypotony < 30 days postoperatively) was an independent risk factor for surgical failure (hazard ratio [HR], 5.1; 95% CI, 1.6-16.2; p = 0.01). Hypotony with another complication was also a risk factor for surgical failure (p < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS:Hypotony, hyphema and shallow AC were the commonest postoperative complications in POAG and PACG patients after phacotrabeculectomy with MMC. Most complications were transient and self-limiting. Early hypotony within the first month was a significant risk factor for surgical failure

Glaucoma screening: where are we and where do we need to go?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Current recommendations for glaucoma screening are decidedly neutral. No studies have yet documented improved long-term outcomes for individuals who undergo glaucoma screening versus those who do not. Given the long duration that would be required to detect a benefit, future studies that may answer this question definitively are unlikely. Nevertheless, advances in artificial intelligence and telemedicine will lead to more effective screening at lower cost. With these new technologies, additional research is needed to determine the costs and benefits of screening for glaucoma. RECENT FINDINGS: Using optic disc photographs and/or optical coherence tomography, deep learning systems appear capable of diagnosing glaucoma more accurately than human graders. Eliminating the need for expert graders along with better technologies for remote imaging of the ocular fundus will allow for less expensive screening, which could enable screening of individuals with otherwise limited healthcare access. In India and China, where most glaucoma remains undiagnosed, glaucoma screening was recently found to be cost-effective. SUMMARY: Recent advances in artificial intelligence and telemedicine have the potential to increase the accuracy, reduce the costs, and extend the reach of screening. Further research into implementing these technologies in glaucoma screening is required.status: publishe

Anterior segment optical coherence tomography angiography following trabecular bypass minimally invasive glaucoma surgery

To assess anterior segment optical coherence tomography angiography (AS-OCTA) imaging of the episcleral vessels before and after trabecular bypass minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS).Published versionThis work was supported by Singapore Imaging Eye Network (SIENA), project no. NMRC/CG/C010A/2017_SERI and SERINTU Advanced Ocular Engineering (STANCE) Program