Treatment Complexity in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG): Perspectives on Patient Selection in Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) Using Stents

Author(s):  
Christian Helbig ◽  
Anja Wollny ◽  
Attila Altiner ◽  
Annette Diener ◽  
Juliane Kohlen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is still one of the most common causes of impaired vision worldwide, despite the further development of therapy options, and can lead to blindness. Micro-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) using stents aims at reducing intraocular pressure (IOP), as it is the main risk factor. With regard to adherence and adverse drug reactions it also aims at reducing the drug burden on patients. The study investigates under everyday conditions the criteria according to which ophthalmologists in Germany select patients for MIGS using stents. In addition, it will be investigated which patients (could) benefit most from the therapy. Material and Methods In this qualitative study, 11 narrative interviews were conducted between May 2017 and July 2018 with ophthalmologists working in the hospital or in a private practice. They were interviewed on their experiences in the treatment of POAG with microstents. The interviews were analysed by an interdisciplinary team using the qualitative content analysis. Results The stages of therapy escalation form the frame of reference for patient selection in MIGS using stents. Only if the IOP cannot be sufficiently reduced by drop therapy or when this causes drug-related side effects that are intolerable for the patients, stents are apparently used as the next higher escalation stage. The intensive post-operative medication and the frequent check-up appointments are perceived as barriers by the interviewees, especially for people with or without disabilities, who are dependent on external help and/or those living in rural areas. The active cooperation of the patients in the demanding aftercare seems to be indispensable for the ophthalmologists. In addition, necessary revisions are sometimes stressful for patients (physical/psychological) and doctors (work organisation/therapy). Against the background of the organisational and economic challenges in the outpatient spectrum of tasks, especially physicians in private practice seem to weigh up carefully for which patients microstent therapy would be reasonable. Conclusion In view of the therapeutic requirements, the current microstent therapy seems to be used in a selected, adherent patient group. Further qualitative and quantitative studies (in other health care regions and structures) are necessary to verify and extend the available results.

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 3172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefania Vernazza ◽  
Sara Tirendi ◽  
Anna Maria Bassi ◽  
Carlo Enrico Traverso ◽  
Sergio Claudio Saccà

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the second leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Increasing evidence suggests oxidative damage and immune response defects are key factors contributing to glaucoma onset. Indeed, both the failure of the trabecular meshwork tissue in the conventional outflow pathway and the neuroinflammation process, which drives the neurodegeneration, seem to be linked to the age-related over-production of free radicals (i.e., mitochondrial dysfunction) and to oxidative stress-linked immunostimulatory signaling. Several previous studies have described a wide range of oxidative stress-related makers which are found in glaucomatous patients, including low levels of antioxidant defences, dysfunction/activation of glial cells, the activation of the NF-κB pathway and the up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and so on. However, the intraocular pressure is still currently the only risk factor modifiable by medication or glaucoma surgery. This present review aims to summarize the multiple cellular processes, which promote different risk factors in glaucoma including aging, oxidative stress, trabecular meshwork defects, glial activation response, neurodegenerative insults, and the altered regulation of immune response.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Omar Sadruddin ◽  
Leonard Pinchuk ◽  
Raymund Angeles ◽  
Paul Palmberg

AbstractTrabeculectomy remains the ‘gold standard’ intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering procedure for moderate-to-severe glaucoma; however, this approach is associated with the need for substantial post-operative management. Micro-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) procedures aim to reduce the need for intra- and post-operative management and provide a less invasive means of lowering IOP. Generally, MIGS procedures are associated with only modest reductions in IOP and are targeted at patients with mild-to-moderate glaucoma, highlighting an unmet need for a less invasive treatment of advanced and refractory glaucoma. The PRESERFLO® MicroShunt (formerly known as InnFocus MicroShunt) is an 8.5 mm-long (outer diameter 350 μm; internal lumen diameter 70 μm) glaucoma drainage device made from a highly biocompatible, bioinert material called poly (styrene-block-isobutylene-block-styrene), or SIBS. The lumen size is sufficiently small that at normal aqueous flow hypotony is avoided, but large enough to avoid being blocked by sloughed cells or pigment. The MicroShunt achieves the desired pressure range in the eye by draining aqueous humor from the anterior chamber to a bleb formed under the conjunctiva and Tenon’s capsule. The device is implanted ab externo with intraoperative Mitomycin C via a minimally invasive (relative to incisional surgery) surgical procedure, enabling precise control of placement without the need for gonioscopy, suture tension control, or suture lysis. The implantation procedure can be performed in combination with cataract surgery or as a standalone procedure. The MicroShunt received Conformité Européenne (CE) marking in 2012 and is intended for the reduction of IOP in eyes of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma in which IOP remains uncontrolled while on maximum tolerated medical therapy and/or in which glaucoma progression warrants surgery. Three clinical studies assessing the long-term safety and efficacy of the MicroShunt have been completed; a Phase 3 multicenter, randomized clinical study comparing the MicroShunt to primary trabeculectomy is underway. In preliminary studies, the MicroShunt effectively reduced IOP and use of glaucoma medications up to 3 years after implantation, with an acceptable safety profile. This article summarizes current literature on the unique properties of the MicroShunt, the preliminary efficacy and safety findings, and discusses its potential use as an alternative to trabeculectomy for glaucoma surgery.


2019 ◽  
Vol Volume 13 ◽  
pp. 2617-2629 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Byszewska ◽  
Joanna Konopińska ◽  
Aleksandra Kinga Kicińska ◽  
Zofia Mariak ◽  
Marek Rękas

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Carlos Izquierdo ◽  
Josefina Mejias ◽  
Laura Cañola ◽  
Natalia Agudelo ◽  
Barbara Rubio

Abstract Background: Glaucoma surgery have been developed to lower intraocular pressure in a less invasive manner than traditional glaucoma surgery. The purpose of this article is to determine the outcome of using combined phacoemulsification technique, ab-interno trabeculectomy dual blade and endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) surgeries in patients with primary open angle glaucoma. Methods: A retrospective case series was performed on 27 consecutive eyes with both primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and cataract; each eye was treated with combined phacoemulsification, ab-interno trabeculectomy-Kahook Dual Blade and Endocyclophotocoagulation at Instituto de ojos Oftalmosalud, Lima, Peru, between April 2017 and May 2017. Inclusion criteria: 1) Patients with uncontrolled mild to advanced POAG (according to Glaucoma Grading Scale HODAPP) 2) cataract condition 3) treatment with two or more glaucoma medications due to rapid progression in the visual fields (at least two in a short period of time). Intraocular pressure (IOP), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) logMAR and number of glaucoma medications were recorded prior to the study, at day 1, week 1, and 1,3,6 and 9 months after surgery. Primary outcome measure was surgical success defined in terms of IOP <14 mmHg either with no medications (complete success) or with medications (qualified success). Results: A total of 27 eyes from 27 patients were included. The mean basal IOP was 17.0±3.7 mmHg and postoperatively was 11.6±1.9 mmHg and 11.4±1.8 mmHg (P<0.001) at 6 and 9 months respectively. Glaucoma medications decreased from 1.9±1.4 to 0.56±1.05 at 9 month follow-ups (P<0.001). Preoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) showed and improvement from 0.4± 0.4 LogMAR to 0.2 ± 0.4 logMAR at 9 months. The main complication was blood reflux intra-operatively (66.7%), which resolved without re-operation. The mean IOP was reduced by 32.9% from baseline and the surgical success was 92,6%, (complete success 70,3% and qualified success 29,6%) at 9 months.Conclusions: In patients with POAG, combined treatment with phacoemulsification, ab-interno trabeculectomy and endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation effectively reduced IOP and glaucoma medication dependence.


Author(s):  
Carolyn Stolfi ◽  
Jenn S. Rossmann

Glaucoma is one of the most common causes of blindness, affecting approximately seventy million people. Glaucoma is typically caused by high intraocular pressures due to increased outflow resistance, which is primarily concentrated within the trabeculae meshwork and the canal of Schlemm. Debris within trabecular spaces can complicate and limit formation and reabsorption of aqueous humor, leading to elevated interocular pressures. In this study, the biomechanics of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma are investigated. Computational modeling in physiologically realistic geometries is performed to examine the relationship between intraocular pressure and downstream trabecular and canal resistance. The governing equations for fluid flow are solved, and the influence of such factors as tissue porosity is evaluated. Increased understanding of the biomechanics of glaucoma can improve diagnosis and treatment of this disease.


Author(s):  
Olha V. Levytska ◽  
Igor Ya. Novytskyy

Hypotensive effect of endotrabeculectomy was compared with that of selective laser trabeculoplasty in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). We evaluated 44 patients (44 eyes) with POAG. In the first group (23 patients), endotrabeculectomy (trabecular ablation through the angle of anterior chamber) was performed, and in the second group (21 patients) the patients underwent selective laser trabeculoplasty. When comparing the intraocular pressure (IOP), it was found that the difference between preoperative and postoperative IOP was significant up to 6 months of follow-up in both groups (p < 0.05), however, hypotensive effect in the first group was more pronounced (7.58 vs. 1.55 mmHg, respectively). When comparing the number of hypotensive medications used before and after glaucoma surgery, it was found that the difference in patients of the first group was significant throughout the observation period (p = 0.028), while in patients of the second group there was no significant difference from the 3rd month of observation. The number of topical drugs to reduce IOP decreased by 1.44 in the first group (p < 0.05) and by 0.33 in the second group (p = 0.109). Endotrabeculectomy, as well as selective laser trabeculoplasty, showed significant hypotensive effect in patients with POAG within 6 months of observation, however, hypotensive effect of endotrabeculectomy significantly overweighted that of SLT. Keywords: endotrabeculectomy, selective laser trabeculoplasty, intraocular pressure, primary open-angle glaucoma.


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