Ab interno canaloplasty reduces IOP, medication use in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma

Ab interno canaloplasty reduced IOP and medication use in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, according to a press release from Ellex Medical Lasers.

Ellex reported results of a case series review on ab interno canaloplasty (ABiC), an update of ab externo canaloplasty performed with the iTrack 250-µm microcatheter. ABiC does not require a tensioning suture to maintain IOP reduction and can be performed alone or in combination with cataract surgery, the release said.

Mahmoud A. Khaimi, MD, of Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma, and Mark J. Gallardo, MD, of El Paso Eye Surgeons, Texas, performed ABiC on 228 patients with mild to moderate primary open-angle glaucoma who underwent ABiC alone or in combination with cataract surgery.

Twelve-month results showed that average IOP decreased from 19 mm Hg on two medications to 13.3 mm Hg on one medication.

Among 130 patients who underwent ABiC and phacoemulsification, mean IOP decreased from 17.1 mm Hg on two medications to 13.1 mm Hg on one medication. IOP decreased an average of 36.74% and medication use decreased an average of 66.66% in the 98 patients who underwent ABiC alone.

Among 161 patients with uncontrolled glaucoma, IOP decreased an average of 38.88% and medication use decreased an average of 50%. Medication use decreased 50% among the 67 patients with controlled glaucoma.

No complications or safety problems were reported.