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Canaloplasty may yield long-term IOP reduction, high safety in African patients
Br J Ophthalmol. 2010;94:1478-1482.
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Canaloplasty provided long-term IOP reduction with a low complication rate in African patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, a study found.
"As a bleb-independent procedure, canaloplasty may be a true alternative to classic filtering surgery, in particular in patients with enhanced wound healing and scar formation," the study authors said.
The study included 60 eyes of 60 patients who underwent canaloplasty with a 360° catheterization of Schlemm's canal with distension of the canal by tensioning of a 10-0 polypropylene suture. The mean postoperative follow-up interval was 30.6 months.
Mean preoperative IOP was 45 mm Hg. Results showed that mean IOP without medication was 15.4 mm Hg at 6 months and 12 months, 16.3 mm Hg at 24 months, and 13.3 mm Hg at 36 months.
Patients with IOP of 21 mm Hg or less had a complete success rate of 77.5% and a qualified success rate of 81.6% at 6 months.
Snellen best corrected visual acuity remained stable in most patients. Descemet's detachment was identified in two eyes and was reversible after 2 weeks. A late decrease in mean IOP of about 3 mm Hg without additional treatment was identified about 2 years postoperatively, the authors said.
"As this long-term report is the first of its kind and no cofactors were found, the reason for such late IOP reduction can only be speculated," they said. "A late restoration of some of the collector channels could be possible."