Comparison between Surgical Techniques Used for Revision of the Filter Bleb: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare two surgical revision techniques in failed trabeculectomies after 6 months. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma who underwent trabeculectomy in at least one eye with uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP) after trabeculectomy performed at least 6 months before were enrolled in this prospective trial. All participants underwent a complete ophthalmological examination at baseline. Randomization was performed to one eye per patient to double-masked trabeculectomy revision or needling. Patients were examined on the first day, 7 days, 14 days, and then monthly until completing 1 year after surgical intervention. All follow-up visits included the following: patients reported ocular and systemic events, best-corrected visual acuity, IOP, slit-lamp examination, and optic disc evaluation for cup-to-disc ratio. Gonioscopy and stereoscopic optic disc photographs were taken at baseline and 12 months. After 1-year, the IOP and number of medications were compared between the groups. Absolute success criteria in the study were IOP <16 mm Hg, for 2 consecutive measurements without using a hypotensive medication. RESULTS: Forty patients were included in this study. Among them, 38 completed 1-year follow-up (18 in revision group and 20 in needling group). The age ranged from 21 to 86 years, with a mean of 66.82 ± 13.44. At baseline, the average IOP was 21.64 ± 5.12 mm Hg (range from 14 to 38 mm Hg) in the entire group. All patients were using at least two classes of hypotensive eye drops, and 3 patients were using oral acetazolamide. The mean use of hypotensive eye drop medications was 3.11 ± 0.67 at the baseline for the entire group. In the present study, 58% of the patients presented complete success, 18% qualified success, and 24% failed in both groups. After 1-year treatment, both techniques were similar for IOP parameters and also for number of medications (p = 0.834 and p = 0.433, respectively). Regarding intra- or postoperative complications, one patient in each group needed a new surgical intervention, one in the needling group due to shallow anterior chamber and one in the revision group due to spontaneous Seidel sign, and one patient in the needling group underwent posterior revision due to fail. CONCLUSIONS: Both techniques were safe and effective for IOP control after 1 year of follow-up in patients who underwent to trabeculectomy more than 6 months before.

Characteristics of the Filtering Bleb and the Agreement between Glaucoma Specialist and Anterior Segment-Optical Coherence Tomography Assessment.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of the filtering bleb in failed late trabeculectomy and the agreement between glaucoma specialist assessment and anterior segment-optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) system assessment in terms of the presence of subconjunctival fluid in the filtering bleb. METHODS: Patients with a diagnosis of glaucoma who were scheduled to undergo trabeculectomy in at least one eye and with uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP) were enrolled. All participants underwent a complete ophthalmological examination. The presence of fluid under the filtering bleb was first evaluated by a glaucoma specialist using biomicroscopy evaluation and then using the OCT 1000 AS-OCT Version 3.0.1.8 (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA, USA) system. A Kappa statistical test was used to evaluate the agreement between AS-OCT and the examiner. The correlation between conjunctiva and tenon thickness and clinical parameters was also assessed. RESULTS: Forty eyes of 40 patients were evaluated in this study. The ages ranged from 21 to 86 years, with a mean of 66.55 ± 12.33. The average IOP was 21.20 ± 4.44 mm Hg (range 14-38 mm Hg) in the entire group. The mean thickness of the conjunctiva and tenon was 302.03 ± 406.76 µm (range 251-1,616 µm). There was a significant negative correlation between the mean thickness of the conjunctiva and tenon and IOP (p = 0.045; confidence interval = -0.558, 0.024). Additionally, there was a significant negative correlation between the mean thickness of the conjunctiva and tenon, and the number of medications used at baseline (p = 0.043; confidence interval = -0.538, 0.051). There was significant negative correlation between the horizontal measurement of the bleb and the use of glaucoma medications (p = 0.017; confidence interval = -0.560, 0.004). A total of 26 patients were determined to have fluid by the examiner (glaucoma expert), and the presence of fluid in AS was confirmed in 19 patients by AS-OCT. Of the 14 patients who were determined to have an absence of fluid, this was confirmed by AS-OCT in 7 patients (Kappa = 0.231; agreement of 65.00%). CONCLUSION: There is fair agreement between glaucoma specialist assessment and AS-OCT assessment in terms of the presence of fluid in trabeculectomy. Our findings highlight the importance of AS-OCT in some patients before deciding upon a new intervention.

Análise da qualidade das córneas doadas e do intervalo entre óbito, enucleação e preservação após a implantação de novas normas técnicas e sanitárias em Banco de Olhos Universitário / Comparative analysis of the donor cornea quality and of the interval between death and preservation before and after new sanitary and technique rules in a University Eye Bank

OBJETIVO: Comparar o intervalo entre o óbito e a enucleação (ΔT-O-E), entre a enucleação e a preservação (ΔT-E-P) e a qualidade da córnea antes e após a implantação de novas normas técnicas e sanitárias baseadas na Resolução RDC 347. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo em que foram avaliados os prontuários dos doadores de córnea do Banco de Tecidos Oculares da Santa Casa de São Paulo, 2 anos antes e 2 anos depois da implementação de novas normas sanitárias. RESULTADOS: Foi observado aumento do número absoluto de 205 para 374 doadores após as mudanças adotadas. Não foi observada diferença estatisticamente significante no Δt-O-E e ΔT-E-P antes e após as mudanças implantadas. Do total de 1.105 córneas doadas, foi observado 388 córneas doadas antes das mudanças e 717 córneas doadas após as mudanças implementadas. Foi observado aumento estatisticamente significante da graduação da qualidade da córnea doada de 1,76 ± 0,90 para 1,94 ± 0,88 após a implementação das novas normas da Resolução. CONCLUSÃO: Após as mudanças técnicas e sanitárias exigidas pela Resolução 347, houve grande aumento no número de córneas doadas, captadas e preservadas. O Banco de Tecidos Oculares não diminuiu os ΔT O-E e ΔT E-P. A qualidade da córnea apresentou-se inferior após as mudanças realizadas no setor.

PURPOSE: To compare the interval between death and enucleation (ΔT-O-E), between enucleation and preservation (ΔT-E-P) and the quality of the cornea before and after the implantation of new technique and sanitary rules. METHODS: A retrospective study that evaluated the records of cornea donors in Sao Paulo's Santa Casa Eye Tissue Bank 2 years before and 2 years after the implementation new sanitary rules. RESULTS: An increase was observed in the absolute number of 205 to 374 donors following the adopted changes. There was no statistically significant difference in Δt-O-E and ΔT-E-P before and after the implemented changes. Of the total of 1,105 donor corneas, 388 donor corneas were observed before the changes and 717 donor corneas after the implemented changes. We observed a statistically significant increase in grading of donor cornea quality from 1.76 ± 0.90 to 1.94 ± 0.88 after the implementation of new standards of resolution. CONCLUSION: After the changes required by Resolution 347, there was a large increase in the number of donated, taken and preserved corneas. The BTO has not diminished the ΔT O-E and ΔT E-P. Cornea quality presented itself lower after the new rules.

[Comparative analysis of the donor cornea quality and of the interval between death and preservation before and after new sanitary and technique rules in a University Eye Bank]. / Análise da qualidade das córneas doadas e do intervalo entre óbito, enucleação e preservação após a implantação de novas normas técnicas e sanitárias em Banco de Olhos Universitário.

PURPOSE: To compare the interval between death and enucleation (ΔT-O-E), between enucleation and preservation (ΔT-E-P) and the quality of the cornea before and after the implantation of new technique and sanitary rules. METHODS: A retrospective study that evaluated the records of cornea donors in Sao Paulo's Santa Casa Eye Tissue Bank 2 years before and 2 years after the implementation new sanitary rules. RESULTS: An increase was observed in the absolute number of 205 to 374 donors following the adopted changes. There was no statistically significant difference in Δt-O-E and ΔT-E-P before and after the implemented changes. Of the total of 1,105 donor corneas, 388 donor corneas were observed before the changes and 717 donor corneas after the implemented changes. We observed a statistically significant increase in grading of donor cornea quality from 1.76 ± 0.90 to 1.94 ± 0.88 after the implementation of new standards of resolution. CONCLUSION: After the changes required by Resolution 347, there was a large increase in the number of donated, taken and preserved corneas. The BTO has not diminished the ΔT O-E and ΔT E-P. Cornea quality presented itself lower after the new rules.