Quantitative assessment of changes in anterior segment morphology after argon laser peripheral iridoplasty: findings from the EARL study group.

IMPORTANCE: Argon laser peripheral iridoplasty (ALPI) could be effective in widening residual angle closure following laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI). BACKGROUND: We investigated changes in angle parameters following ALPI and its safety profile in this study. DESIGN: Retrospective, observational case series. PARTICIPANTS: The records from a single centre, of 36 patients (60 eyes) who underwent ALPI, for residual angle closure following LPI, were reviewed. METHODS: We analysed anterior chamber parameters in anterior segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT) images using customized software pre- and post-ALPI. Paired t-test was used to compare changes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ASOCT parameters analysed included angle opening distance (AOD 500 and 750), trabecular iris surface area (TISA 500 and 750), anterior chamber width (ACW), anterior chamber volume (ACV), angle recess area (ARA), anterior chamber area (ACA), anterior chamber depth (ACD) and lens vault (LV). RESULTS: There was a mean increase in AOD 500 (0.05 vs. 0.16 mm, P < 0.001), AOD 750 (0.15 vs. 0.27 mm, P < 0.001), TISA 500 (0.010 vs. 0.038 mm2 , P < 0.001), TISA 750 (0.039 vs. 0.102 mm2 , P < 0.001), ACV (89.76 vs. 102.25 mm3 , P = 0.01), ARA 500 (0.015 vs. 0.033 mm2 , P < 0.001) and ARA 750 (0.044 vs. 0.088 mm2 , P < 0.001). There was no significant change in ACW, ACD, ACA and LV. Mean intraocular pressure (IOP) decreased post-ALPI (17.2 vs. 15.7 mmHg, P = 0.002). The mean follow-up duration was 2.1 years (range 0.5-5 years). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: ALPI results in changes to the angle morphology and lowered IOP in eyes with residual angle closure. Our findings suggest a possible role for ALPI in eyes with residual angle closure following peripheral iridotomy.

Learning ECOC Code Matrix for Multiclass Classification with Application to Glaucoma Diagnosis.

Classification of different mechanisms of angle closure glaucoma (ACG) is important for medical diagnosis. Error-correcting output code (ECOC) is an effective approach for multiclass classification. In this study, we propose a new ensemble learning method based on ECOC with application to classification of four ACG mechanisms. The dichotomizers in ECOC are first optimized individually to increase their accuracy and diversity (or interdependence) which is beneficial to the ECOC framework. Specifically, the best feature set is determined for each possible dichotomizer and a wrapper approach is applied to evaluate the classification accuracy of each dichotomizer on the training dataset using cross-validation. The separability of the ECOC codes is maximized by selecting a set of competitive dichotomizers according to a new criterion, in which a regularization term is introduced in consideration of the binary classification performance of each selected dichotomizer. The proposed method is experimentally applied for classifying four ACG mechanisms. The eye images of 152 glaucoma patients are collected by using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and then segmented, from which 84 features are extracted. The weighted average classification accuracy of the proposed method is 87.65 % based on the results of leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV), which is much better than that of the other existing ECOC methods. The proposed method achieves accurate classification of four ACG mechanisms which is promising to be applied in diagnosis of glaucoma.

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.

Quantitative evaluation of anterior chamber parameters using anterior segment optical coherence tomography in primary angle closure mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate different mechanisms of primary angle closure and to quantify anterior chamber parameters in these mechanisms using anterior segment optical coherence tomography in an Asian population. DESIGN: Hospital-based cross-sectional observational study. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-eight consecutive patients with primary angle closure glaucoma. METHODS: Patients underwent complete ophthalmic examination and imaging of nasal-temporal angles with anterior segment optical coherence tomography. Images were categorized into four primary angle closure mechanisms: pupil block, plateau iris configuration, Thick peripheral iris roll and exaggerated lens vault. Parameters computed: anterior chamber depth central, anterior chamber depth at 1000 µm and 2000 µm anterior to scleral spur, lens vault, anterior chamber area, angle opening distance, trabecular iris space area and iris thickness. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Anterior chamber parameters and primary angle closure mechanisms. RESULTS: Mean values of anterior chamber depths: central (P < 0.001), at 2000 µm (P < 0.001), 1000 µm (P < 0.001), lens vault (P < 0.001), anterior chamber area (P < 0.001), were significantly different among the four groups. Multivariate analysis showed anterior chamber depths: central, and anterior chamber depth at 2000 µm and anterior chamber area were higher in plateau iris and Thick peripheral iris roll and lower in exaggerated lens vault (P < 0.001) as compared to pupil block mechanism, lens vault was greater in exaggerated lens vault (P < 0.001) and lesser in plateau iris and Thick peripheral iris roll as compared to pupil block mechanism. CONCLUSION: Anterior segment optical coherence tomography may be used for evaluation of underlying primary angle closure mechanism(s) in a patient and tailor the treatment accordingly.

Micropulse transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation in the treatment of refractory glaucoma.

BACKGROUND: Transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation (TSCPC) is an established method of treatment for refractory glaucoma, but is associated with significant complications. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of a new form of TSCPC using micropulse diode laser and trans-pars plana treatment with a novel contact probe. METHODS: Prospective interventional case series of 40 eyes of 38 consecutive patients with refractory glaucoma treated with micropulse TSCPC with a novel probe. Outcomes measured were success, hypotony and response rates. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 63.2 +/- 16.0 years. The mean follow-up period was 16.3 +/- 4.5 months. The mean intraocular pressure (IOP) before micropulse TSCPC was 39.3 +/- 12.6 mmHg. Mean IOP decreased to 31.1 +/- 13.4 mmHg at 1 day, 28.0 +/- 12.0 mmHg at 1 week, 27.4 +/- 12.7 mmHg at 1 month, 27.1 +/- 13.6 mmHg at 3 months, 25.8 +/- 14.5 mmHg at 6 months, 26.6 +/- 14.7 mmHg at 12 months and 26.2 +/- 14.3 mmHg at 18 months (P < 0.001 at all time points). No patient had hypotony or loss of best-corrected visual acuity. The overall success rate after a mean of 1.3 treatment sessions was 72.7%. CONCLUSION: Micropulse TSCPC is a safe and effective method of lowering IOP in cases of refractory glaucoma and is comparable with conventional TSCPC.

Utility of bleb imaging with anterior segment optical coherence tomography in clinical decision-making after trabeculectomy.

AIM: To determine if imaging of blebs with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT) affects clinical decision-making with regard to laser suture lysis (LSL) after trabeculectomy. METHOD: In this prospective observational case series, we included patients with poorly controlled intraocular pressure (IOP) after standardized trabeculectomy from May to November 2006. One observer assessed IOP, anterior chamber depth and bleb formation, and recorded a decision of whether or not to undertake LSL based on clinical grounds. A second observer masked to clinical data recorded a decision of whether or not to perform LSL based on ASOCT assessment of scleral flap position, presence of a sub-flap space, patency of the internal ostium, and bleb wall thickening. We compared the 2 observers' decisions to determine how ASOCT influenced decision-making. RESULTS: Seven eyes of 7 patients were included. On the basis of clinical examination, LSL was recommended in all 7 (100.0%) cases due to presence of elevated IOP, deep anterior chambers and poorly formed blebs. Using ASOCT, LSL was recommended in 5/7 (71.4%) cases with apposed scleral flaps, absent sub-flap spaces, and absent bleb wall thickening. In 2/7 (28.7%) cases, LSL was not recommended based on ASOCT findings of an elevated scleral flap, a patent sub-flap space, and bleb wall thickening. All 7 patients had good IOP control and formed blebs at a mean of 8.4+/-2.6 months after trabeculectomy, with a mean IOP of 14.3+/-3.2 mm Hg with no medications. CONCLUSIONS: This small study suggests that ASOCT imaging may affect decision-making with regard to LSL by providing information not apparent on clinical examination.

High-definition imaging of trabeculectomy blebs using spectral domain optical coherence tomography adapted for the anterior segment.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this work was to image trabeculectomy blebs using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT). METHODS: In this prospective cross-sectional study, patients who had undergone trabeculectomy with at least 3 months of follow up were included. Blebs were imaged using an adapted SDOCT system (Cirrus HD-OCT, Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc., Dublin, CA, USA) and time domain anterior segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT) (Visante OCT, Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc.). An observer masked to clinical data assessed the utility of SDOCT and ASOCT in visualizing structures in successful and failed blebs. RESULTS: Fifty-one eyes were imaged, of which 43 (84.3%) were successful. SDOCT showed wall thickening (93.0% vs. 67.4%, P = 0.006) and discrete hyporeflective spaces in the wall (88.4% vs. 14.0%, P < 0.0001) in a greater proportion of successful blebs than ASOCT. SDOCT showed the bleb cavity (23.3% vs. 48.8%, P = 0.02), scleral flap (34.9% vs. 90.7%, P < 0.0001), subflap space (20.9% vs. 72.1%, P < 0.0001) and ostium (9.3% vs. 88.4%, P < 0.0001) in fewer successful blebs than ASOCT. The internal ostium was not visualized in any failed bleb using SDOCT, whereas ASOCT showed the ostium in 87.5% of failed blebs (P = 0.001). SDOCT showed cystic spaces in the bleb wall in a greater proportion of successful blebs than failed blebs (88.4% vs. 37.5%, P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: SDOCT imaging was able to show fine superficial features in the bleb wall. However, SDOCT had limited clinical utility in that it did not provide useful information about deep features such as flap position, bleb cavity formation or patency of the subflap space and internal ostium.