The study of the efficiency of micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation in the combined treatment of patients with secondary neovascular glaucoma

Background: Neovascular glaucoma (NVG) is a highly refractory form, it is characterized by fast development and a high level of the intraocular pressure (IOP). Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (mCPC) in the combined treatment of patients with secondary neovascular glaucoma. Methods: The study included 32 patients (32 eyes) with secondary NVG as an outcome of diabetes mellitus and (or) thrombosis of the central retinal vein or its branches. The preoperative IOP averaged 38.88.8 mm Hg with the most intense hypotensive therapy. All the patients underwent mCPC. In the postoperative period, the patients were examined on the first day after the operation, then in 1 week, 1, 3, 6 months, 1 year after the operation. Results: All the operations were performed without complications. Pain syndrome in all cases was stopped on the first day after surgery. Six patients had reactive hypertension on the first day, therefore, the hypotensive therapy was intensified. The IOP 1 week after mCPC was 20.97.9 mm Hg, after 1 month of observation 23.76.0 mm Hg with the hypotensive therapy. 34 weeks post-surgery, six patients with the preserved visual function experienced a repeated IOP increase, and the Ahmed valve was implanted. 6 months after mCPC, the IOP level averaged 22.87.7 mm Hg with the hypotensive therapy. Against the background of the IOP compensation, anti-VEGF drugs were injected in 4 cases, followed by laser coagulation of the retina. Conclusion: Application of mCPC in NVG glaucoma patients showed only a small number of postoperative complications. This method of laser treatment can be used in combination with panretinal laser coagulation before or after the surgery, including administration of anti-VEGF drugs before or after the surgery. In case of the IOP increase, mCPC may be repeated.

Primary slow-coagulation transscleral cyclophotocoagulation laser treatment for medically recalcitrant neovascular glaucoma

AimsTo report treatment outcomes of slow-coagulation continuous-wave transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TSCPC) as an initial surgical intervention in patients with neovascular glaucoma (NVG).MethodsA retrospective study including 53 patients (mean age of 69.6±16.6 years and mean follow-up of 12.7±8.9 months) with a diagnosis of NVG and no previous incisional glaucoma or cyclophotocoagulation surgeries. All patients underwent slow-coagulation continuous-wave TSCPC (1250-milliwatt power and 4-second duration).Primary outcome measure was surgical success defined as an intraocular pressure (IOP) from 6 to 21 mm Hg with a reduction ≥20% from baseline, no reoperation for glaucoma and no loss of light perception vision. Secondary outcome measures include IOP, glaucoma medications, visual acuity (VA) and complications.ResultsIOP decreased from 40.7±8.6 mm Hg preoperatively to 18.4±12.2 mm Hg postoperatively (p<0.001). The preoperative number of glaucoma medications dropped from 3.3±1.1 at baseline to 2.0±1.5 at the last postoperative visit (p<0.001). The cumulative probabilities of success at 12 and 24 months were 71.7% and 64.2 %, respectively. Mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution VA was relatively unchanged from 2.27±0.63 to 2.25±0.66 at the last follow-up visit (p=0.618). The most common observed complications were decrease in baseline VA (13.2%) and anterior chamber inflammation (9.4%).ConclusionsSlow-coagulation TSCPC is an effective and relatively safe initial surgical intervention in medically uncontrolled NVG.

Micropulse Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation as Primary Surgical Treatment for Primary Open Angle Glaucoma in Taiwan during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) accounting for the greatest number of total glaucoma cases. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (MP-TSCPC) as a primary procedure in POAG during the COVID-19 pandemic. We retrospectively analyzed 60 eyes of 52 patients, who were diagnosed with mild-to-end-stage POAG without previous glaucoma surgery and received MP-TSCPC between 1 January 2020 and 31 August 2020. The mean preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) significantly decreased from 27.8 mm Hg to 19.8, 20.1, 20.3, 20.4, and 20.2 mm Hg at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, respectively (all p < 0.05). The mean number of IOP-lowering medications used significantly decreased from 3.3 at the baseline to 1.6, 1.8, 1.8, 1.9, and 1.9 at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, respectively (all p < 0.001). Total withdrawal of antiglaucoma medications was fulfilled in five patients. The main outcome was achieved in 81.7% at postoperative month 12. The most common adverse effect was transient mydriasis (28.3%). No major complications were encountered. MP-TSCPC seems to be an effective and safe treatment to reduce IOP and the medication burden with minimal vision-threatening complications in mild-to-end-stage POAG patients without previous glaucoma surgery.

Transscleral vs Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation: Safety and Efficacy When Combined with Phacoemulsification

Precis: Phacoemulsification combined with MicroPulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation appears to provide significantly greater long-term IOP reduction than phacoemulsification combined with endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation without compromising safety.Purpose: To compare the effectiveness and safety of phacoemulsification combined with endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (phaco/ECP), phacoemulsification combined with MicroPulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (phaco/MP-TSCPC), and phacoemulsification alone (phaco) in the treatment of coexisting cataract and glaucoma. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of consecutive cases at Massachusetts Eye & Ear. The main outcome measures were the cumulative probabilities of failure between the phaco/ECP group, phaco/MP-TSCPC group, and the phaco alone group with failure defined as reaching NLP vision at any point postoperatively or the inability to maintain ≥20% IOP reduction from baseline with IOP between 5-18 mmHg. Additional outcome measures included changes in average IOP, number of glaucoma medications, and complication rates. Results: 64 eyes from 64 patients (25 phaco/ ECP, 20 phaco/ MPTSCPC, 19 phaco alone) were included in this study. The groups did not differ in age (mean 71.04 ± 6.7 years) or length of follow-up time. Primary open-angle glaucoma was the most common type of glaucoma in the phaco alone (42%) and phaco/ECP (48%) groups while mixed-mechanism glaucoma was the most common type in the phaco/MP-TSCPC group (40%). The mean IOP reductions at 1 year were 3.07 ± 5.3 mmHg from a baseline of 15.78 ± 4.7 in the phaco/ECP group, 6.0 ± 4.3 mmHg from a baseline of 18.37 ± 4.6 in the phaco/MP-TSCPC group and 1.0 ± 1.6 from a baseline of 14.30 ± 4.2 mmHg in the phaco alone group. Surgical failure was less likely in eyes in the phaco/MP-TSCPC and phaco/ECP groups compared to phaco alone based on the Kaplan-Meier survival criteria, with failure defined as the inability to maintain an IOP reduction of 20% or more with IOP between 5-18 mm Hg long term. There were no differences in complications among the three groups. Conclusions: Phaco/MP-TSCPC appears to provide for greater long-term IOP control than phaco alone and phaco/ECP. All three procedures had similar safety profiles.

Phacoemulsification combined with micropulse cyclodiode laser in glaucoma patients: efficacy and safety

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of phacoemulsification combined with Micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (MP-TSCPC) in glaucoma patients. Methods This is a retrospective case-note review. The participants were adult patients with diagnoses of glaucoma and cataract who required a further reduction in IOP or a reduction in the number of glaucoma drops. All consecutive patients who underwent cataract surgery (CS) combined with MP-TSCPC laser between October 2018 and July 2019 were included in the study. The effect on visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP) and number of anti-glaucoma drops were evaluated at 6 and 12 months in addition to any complications that occurred during any time point of the study. Results 42 eyes were included in the study. Mean IOP was reduced from 19.5 ± 5.4 mmHg by 22.5% to 15.1 ± 4.6 at 6 months post-operatively and by 19.5% to 15 ± 6.6 mm Hg at 12 months (p < 0.001 at both time points). The number of anti-glaucoma medications also reduced significantly from 2.8 ± 1.3 to 1.6 ± 1.2 at 6 months and to 2.2 ± 1.3 at 12 months (p < 0.001 at both time points). The success rate was 56% at 6 months and 54% at 12 months. 54.7% of our patients who completed 12 months follow up had an improvement or unchanged vision at the last visits. Conclusion This is the first study evaluating the effect of cataract surgery combined with MP-TSCPC in glaucoma patients. We demonstrated that this led to a reduction in IOP and the number of anti-glaucoma medications at 6 and 12-month postoperatively. The majority of patients had either stable or better vision at 12 months follow-up.

Results of complicated cataract surgery in patients with neovascular glaucoma in case of diabetic proliferative retinopathy or postthrombotic macular edema

Objective. To evaluate the results of complicated cataract surgery in patients with neovascular glaucoma in case of diabetic proliferative retinopathy or postthrombotic macular edema. Material and methods. A retrospective study of the complicated cataract surgery with IOL implantation results was performed in 38 patients (38 eyes) with neovascular glaucoma. The first stage was Lucentis intravitreal injection, then after 2 weeks intraocular pressure (IOP) under combined medical therapy was determined: 1) if IOP was <25 mm Hg, then phacoemulsification was performed; 2) if IOP remained >25 mm Hg, the second stage was transscleral cyclophotocoagulation, and 2 weeks later – cataract phacoemulsification. Results. All patients with neovascular glaucoma had significant increase of the best corrected visual acuity from the initial level on the 1st day, 1- and 3-months post-op. IOP values under medical treatment corresponded to the range of the average statistical norm. There was no recurrence of neovascularization or IOP increase. Conclusion. The application of Lucentis intravitreal injections as well as IOP lowering to the average statistical norm range under medication or laser surgery provide the basis for an effective and safe complicated cataract surgery with IOL implantation in patients with neovascular glaucoma in case of diabetic proliferative retinopathy or post-thrombotic macular edema. Key words: cataract, neovascular glaucoma, phacoemulsification.

Evaluation of repeated micropulse cyclophotocoagulation in patients with refractory glaucoma

PURPOSE. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of repeated micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (MP-TSCPC) in patients with previously operated refractory glaucoma.MATERIALS AND METHODS. We examined 89 patients aged 74.2±7.3 years with moderate (16), advanced (58) and terminal (15) stages of uncompensated primary openangle glaucoma (POAG) before and within 12 months after the first MP-TSCPC (SUPRA 810, “Quantel Medical”, France) using standard laser parameters — 100 J. Indications for repeated MP-TSCPC were determined for 23 patients in 3 (1 patient), 6 (14 patients), 9 (8 patients) months after the first procedure. Repeated MP-TSCPC was carried out with higher impact energy — 125 J.RESULTS. After the first procedure, the hypotensive effect was achieved in 66 (74.2%) patients with refractory glaucoma lasting up to 12 months of follow-up. Repeated MP-TSCPC in 23 patients reduced the IOP by 31.2% in moderate, 31.8% in advanced, and 22.9% in terminal stages (p<0.05) by 6 months of follow-up. As a result, during 12 months of observation, MP-TSCPC (single and double) led to stabilization of the IOP in 83.1% of cases.CONCLUSION. Single and repeated micropulse TSCPC with laser energies of 100 J and 125 J is an effective and safe method of treating patients with refractory glaucoma. A single MP-TSCPC with laser energy of 100 J was effective in 66 (74.2%) patients by 12 months of observation, and single followed by repeated (laser energy of 125 J) — in 74 (83.1%) patients. It is possible to revise the basic parameters of the MP-TSCPC procedure from 100 to 125 J to achieve a longer and at the same time safe hypotensive effect in patients with refractory glaucoma.

Low-dose transscleral cyclophotocoagulation with subsequent phacoemulsification in the treatment of prolonged acute primary angle closure

BackgroundTo explore the outcomes and mechanisms of intraocular pressure (IOP) control using low-dose transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (LDTSCP) followed by phacoemulsification in patients with prolonged acute primary angle closure (APAC).MethodsPatients with prolonged APAC refractory to all other treatment modalities were prospectively recruited, and underwent LDTSCP (10 shots, 2 s duration, 120° treatment with the energy starting at 1500 mW and titrated to the level with audible burst but not exceeding 2000 mW) and anterior chamber paracentesis 1 week prior to phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation and viscogoniosynechiolysis. Postoperative IOP, vision, anatomic changes on anterior segment optical coherence tomography and complications were recorded.ResultsTwenty eyes with prolonged APAC were recruited. Median follow-up was 12 months (range 9–18), at which point the vision in all eyes had improved and IOP was ≤17 mm Hg on no antiglaucoma medications. Following LDTSCP at postoperative day (POD) 1, IOP decreased in all eyes to a median 15 mm Hg (range: 6–28 mm Hg). Post-LDTSCP supraciliary effusion (SCE) occurred in 90% of eyes on POD1 or POD7 and ciliary body defect (CBD) was detected in 30% of eyes and resolved in all cases by postoperative month 1. Lower post-LDTSCP IOP was associated with more number of bursts (r=−0.558, p=0.011) and higher grade of SCE (r=−0.877, p<0.001), but not with total energy (p=0.240). Eyes with CBD (p=0.018) and a higher number of bursts (r=0.657, p=0.002) had higher grade SCE.ConclusionsLDTSCP-induced SCE may explain the post-LDTSCP IOP reduction seen in eyes with prolonged APAC. LDTSCP instead of traditional more extensive treatment, was sufficient to provide a relatively safe and effective bridge therapy prior to phacoemulsification.Trial registration numberChinese Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR1900023567).