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Glaucoma surgery innovations may reduce number of invasive procedures needed

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WAILEA, Hawaii — Recent innovations in glaucoma surgery may lead to a reduction in the number of invasive procedures needed by glaucoma patients, according to one surgeon.

Here at Hawaiian Eye 2006, Richard A. Lewis, MD, provided an overview of recent technological developments in glaucoma surgery, including Optonol’s ExPress miniature glaucoma shunt, selective laser trabeculoplasty, endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation and the AquaFlow drainage device from STAAR Surgical.

Dr. Lewis said these recently developed procedures have reduced the occurrence of some early and late postoperative problems. With each of these procedures there are “no bleb and bleb-related complications and no hypotony,” he said.

However, Dr. Lewis said there are disadvantages to these procedures in comparison with trabeculectomy, including insufficient pressure reduction.

“There is also a high learning curve associated with some of these newer procedures,” he said.