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Conjunctival microcysts found in glaucomatous eyes before canaloplasty
In glaucomatous eyes, conjunctival microcysts were present before canaloplasty and increased in density and surface area after successful surgery.
“These findings indicated enhanced aqueous humor filtration across the sclera and conjunctiva after canaloplasty,” the study authors said.
One week before surgery and 12 weeks after surgery, researchers used in vivo confocal microscopy to evaluate the epithelial features of the bulbar conjunctiva in 30 white glaucoma patients who underwent canaloplasty. Surgery was considered successful if preoperative IOP was reduced by one-third.
Mean density and mean area of microcysts were also measured. Trabecular distension and scleral modifications at the surgery site were evaluated postoperatively using anterior segment optical coherence tomography.
Canaloplasty was successful in 23 patients (group 1) at 12 weeks after surgery but unsuccessful in seven patients (group 2).
“None of the patients showed a clinically visible conjunctival bleb and no significant intra- or postoperative complications occurred,” the researchers wrote.
Baseline IOP was 28.1 mm Hg in group 1 and 28.3 mm Hg in group 2, mean density was 10.61 cysts/mm2 and 11.35 cysts/mm2, and mean area of microcysts was 2,845.02 µm2 and 2,700.56 µm2, respectively. Twelve weeks after the procedure, mean IOP was 13.2 mm Hg and 24.6 mm Hg (P < .05), respectively. In group 1, there was a fourfold increase in mean density (37.86 cysts/mm2) and mean area of microcysts (11,997.84 µm2) (P < .001). The researchers found no differences in group 2 at the 12-week mark.