Safety and efficacy of ultrasound ciliary plasty as a primary intervention in glaucoma patients.

AIM: To evaluate the safety and the efficacy of the ultrasound ciliary plasty (UCP) on the intraocular pressure (IOP) control in glaucomatous eyes without previous glaucoma surgery. METHODS: A retrospective study included patients with primary and secondary glaucoma who underwent UCP in Dar AlShifa Hospital, Kuwait between January 2017 to June 2018. High-intensity focused ultrasound procedures were performed under peribulbar anesthesia using the 2nd generation probe with 8s duration of each of the 6 shots. Complete ophthalmologic examinations were scheduled pre-treatment, and at 1d, 1wk, 1, 3, 6 and 12mo post-treatment. Primary outcomes were the IOP reduction and success rates at 12mo, while the secondary outcomes were the occurrence of vision threatening complications and visual acuity. RESULTS: The records of 62 eyes of 62 patients were analyzed with mean age of 63.8y (67.7% males). There was statistically significant reduction in the mean IOP from 35.2±8.3 mm Hg before treatment to 20.6±8.7 mm Hg at 12th month (P<0.0005) with a mean percentage IOP reduction of 42.3% with significant reduction in the mean number of antiglaucomatous drugs from 3.2±0.4 before treatment to 2.1±1.02 at 12mo (P<0.0005). Qualified success was achieved in 77.4% of eyes at 12mo. No major intra- or post-treatment complications were reported. CONCLUSION: Second-generation UCP prove to be effective in reducing IOP in naive glaucoma patients with lower success rates in cases of neovascular and uveitic glaucomas.

Visumax femtolasik versus Moria M2 microkeratome in mild to moderate myopia: efficacy, safety, predictability, aberrometric changes and flap thickness predictability.

INTRODUCTION: This is an interventional prospective clinical study which was conducted to evaluate the efficacy, safety, predictability, ocular aberrations, and flap thickness predictability of Visumax femtosecond laser (FSL) compared to Moria M2 microkeratome (MK) in mild to moderate myopia. METHODS: This study included 60 eyes who were divided into two groups. Thirty eyes in group (I) in which the flap was created with Visumax FSL, while in group II (30 eyes) the Moria M2 MK was used. Keratometric, refractive, and aberrometric measurements were compared preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. The intraoperative subtraction pachymetry (the SP 100 Handy pachymeter (Tomey, Nagoya, Japan) was used for preoperative pachymetry and flap thickness measurement. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between the two groups in regards to postoperative manifest sphere, spherical equivalent, astigmatism, safety indices nor ocular aberrations. Twenty six eyes (86.6%) in group I and 23 eyes in group II (76.6%) were within ±0.5D of the intended correction and 23 eyes (76.6%) in group I and 15 eyes in group II (50%) were within ±0.25D of the intended correction. In group I, the mean postoperative actual flap thickness was 100.12 ± 16.1 µm (81 to 122 µm), while in group II, it was 104.6 ± 20.1 µm (62 to 155 µm). The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Both Visumax and Moria M2 MK are safe and effective in treating myopia with no statistically significant difference in induction of ocular aberrations but with potential advantage for Visumax regarding predictability. More accurate flap thickness is achieved with Visumax femtolasik. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was retrospectively registered on 19/6/2017. Trial registration number NCT03193411 , clinicalTrials.gov .

Phacoemulsification and goniosynechialysis in the management of unresponsive primary angle closure.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of phacoemulsification and goniosynechialysis (PEGS) in managing acute and subacute primary angle closure unresponsive to conventional therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective series of patients of six glaucoma-trained surgeons with primary angle closure that did not respond to medical management, Nd:YAG laser peripheral iridotomy, or argon laser peripheral iridoplasty. RESULTS: A total of twenty-one patients with an average age of 65.6 years were included. Underlying mechanism of angle closure included pupillary block (n = 18) and plateau iris (n = 3). Average intraocular pressure (IOP) immediately prior to PEGS was 40.7 mm Hg, and mean follow-up time after PEGS was 11.7 months. PEGS decreased mean IOP by 25 mm Hg (62%), and mean number of medications from 3.8 pre-surgery to 1.7 post-surgery (55%). Mean LogMar visual acuity improved after PEGS, from 0.64 to 0.44 (Paired t test t = 4.120 P = 0.001). Subsequent trabeculectomy was necessary in one case (5%). CONCLUSIONS: Phacoemulsification with goniosynechialysis may be an effective treatment option for primary angle closure unresponsive to conventional therapy.