[IOP spikes following contact transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation]

TRANSSCLERAL DIODE CYCLOPHOTOCOAGULATION IN TREATMENT OF GLAUCOMA

Cyclodestructive procedures are an alternative of surgical treatment of medically refractory glaucoma.

AIM

To assess efficiency and safety of diode cyclophotocoagulation (CPC).

METHODS

Retrospective study included 81 eyes with advanced glaucoma operated with CPC for elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) from January 2017 to January 2019. CPC was performed in retrobulbar anesthesia with contact diode laser FOX (A.R.C. Laser, Germany) of wavelength 810 nm, transsclerally to the ciliary body. Energy settings: intensity 2 W, exposition time 2 s, 18 applications in arc of 360°. Decrease of intraocular pressure was investigated during month 1, 6 and 12 after CPC. Safety was evaluated according to the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) on Snellen optotypes and number of postoperative complications.

RESULTS

Study on 31 eyes of 24 patients, 21 (68 %) women and 10 (32 %) men, with follow-up during more than 12 months. Mean follow-up time was 19.5 ± 6.1 (from 12 to 29) months. Average age was 75.9 ± 9.2 (56 - 93) years. Indication for CPC was primary open angle glaucoma in 15 eyes (49 %), primary angle closure glaucoma in 6 eyes (19 %) and secondary glaucomas in 10 eyes (32 %). All patients were on therapy of 4 antiglaucomatic drops and 10 of them (32 %) on acetazolamide pills. IOP before CPC was 25.4 ± 11.0 (13-56) mm Hg. After 1 year IOP decreased to 16.9 ± 6.1 (8-40) mm Hg. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) before CPC was 0.39 ± 0.34 (0-1), 1 year after CPC 0.36 ± 0.33 (0-1). 1 year after CPC, 11 eyes (35 %) lost 0.23 ± 0.14 rows. 6 from these (19 %) due to other acquired ocular pathologies. Hypotony occurred in 6 % and uveitis in 10 % eyes.

CONCLUSION

CPC is a safe and effective method of lowering IOP.

Comparing the efficacy of trabeculectomy and diode laser cyclophotocoagulation in primary open-angle glaucoma

PURPOSE

The aim was to compare the postsurgical outcomes of trabeculectomy (TET) and transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) in a similar cohort of eyes diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For this monocentric non-randomized retrospective comparative trial, the records of eyes which underwent TET or CPC between 2013 and 2016 at our institution for the treatment of POAG were reviewed. Parameters analyzed before surgery as well as 1 and 2-3 years afterwards were visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP), mean defect (MD) of the visual field, number of glaucoma medications and the objective refraction using which the surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) was calculated.

RESULTS

In total, 51 eyes of 51 patients underwent TET and 45 eyes of 45 patients underwent CPC. Mean VA dropped in both groups on the last follow-up after surgery (TET-group: 0.17 ± 0.17 to 0.23 ± 0.28 logMAR, p = 0.01/CPC-group: 0.22 ± 0.22 to 0.26 ± 0.27 logMAR, p = 0.01). In the TET- and CPC-groups IOP decreased significantly (TET: 24.9 ± 6.4 to 14.9 ± 3.1 mmHg, p = 0.001/CPC: 23.0 ± 6.5 to 16.0 ± 4.1 mmHg, p = 0.001) although more pronounced and less depending on IOP-lowering medication in eyes after TET. MD remained stable after TET (7.4 ± 4.8 and 8.1 ± 4.9 dB, p = 0.1) but further deteriorated in eyes after CPC (9.0 ± 4.9 and 10.7 ± 4.6 dB, p < 0.001). SIA was comparable in both groups on the last follow-up (TET: 0.83 ± 0.69 D; CPC: 0.91 ± 0.65 D, p = 0.6).

CONCLUSION

The IOP reduction achieved without medication was more pronounced in the TET-group compared with the CPC-group. Visual field remained stable in the TET-group, while further deteriorating in the CPC-group during follow-up. Eyes undergoing CPC had a higher demand for additional medication to reach comparable success rates as TET. Due to this performing TET is favorable over CPC in POAG eyes.

Update on results and complications of cyclophotocoagulation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review highlights recently published studies on transscleral and endoscopic diode cyclophotocoagulation (TCP, ECP) and summarizes the treatment results and complications.

RECENT FINDINGS

Although both TCP and ECP are efficacious procedures for the treatment of refractory glaucoma, no consensus exists for optimum treatment protocol. TCP has mainly been used as a last-resort treatment for intractable glaucoma with very limited visual potential. Repeated treatment is often required. Serious complications include vision loss, hypotony, and phthisis. High treatment energy per session and underlying abnormality seem risk factors for these complications. Recent growing numbers of investigations are giving promising results for TCP as a primary surgery in eyes with good vision. Although ECP came later into clinical use for glaucoma treatment, it is becoming more accepted and no longer reserved for end-stage cases. ECP is most commonly performed in conjunction with cataract surgery and shows overall good success with relatively low complication rates. Serious complications include hypotony, phthisis, cystoid macular edema, and retinal detachment.

SUMMARY

Recent literatures suggest that both TCP and ECP are performed increasingly as the primary surgery for various types and stages of glaucoma. Both treatments are effective procedures, although potential for serious complications exists.