The Efficacy and Safety of High-Frequency Deep Sclerotomy in Treatment of Chronic Open-Angle Glaucoma Patients

Abstract EN

Purpose.

Highlights the high-frequency deep sclerotomy as a competing ab interno surgery in open-angle glaucoma patients and evaluates the efficacy of high-frequency deep sclerotomy in lowering IOP of chronic open-angle glaucoma patients, in addition to the evaluation of the safety of the procedure on the corneal endothelium.

Design.

A prospective study.

It was performed in the Research Institute of Ophthalmology, Cairo.

Participants.

43 eyes were enrolled for the study.

All eyes were diagnosed with chronic open-angle glaucoma.

Methods.

The procedure was performed using the abee® glaucoma tip of Oertli phacoemulsification machine (OS3, Switzerland) and goniolens performing nasal six pockets penetrating 1 mm deep into the trabecular meshwork and Schlemm’s canal.

Patients were followed up regarding vision and intraocular pressure (IOP) for 9 months.

Endothelial cell count and coefficient of variation were calculated using specular microscopy preoperatively and 9 months postoperatively.

Results.

The mean preoperative IOP was 31.4 ± 4.71 mmHg (range: 22 to 42 mmHg).

All patients were followed up for nine months.

The mean IOP was 19.06 ± 1.907 mmHg (range: 15 to 26 mmHg) by the end of the study.

The reduction across the follow-ups was statistically significant (P<0.0001).

The percentage of total success was 90.7% (39 eyes).

Four eyes (9.3%) had IOP > 21 (failed) after surgery and continued on antiglaucoma therapy.

Conclusion.

High-frequency deep sclerotomy is a safe and promising minimally invasive procedure which successfully achieves a lower IOP for chronic open-angle glaucoma patients, but not adequate for advanced glaucoma patients.

This trial is registered with PACTR201910823824561.