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Stegmann canal expander helps lower IOP in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma
The Stegmann canal expander, implanted during canaloplasty, lowered IOP and reduced complications in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, according to a study.
The prospective, single-center noncomparative study included 22 eyes of 22 consecutive patients with medically uncontrolled primary open-angle glaucoma who underwent primary viscocanalostomy and implantation of the new canal expander. The expander was implanted into Schlemm’s canal, and patient follow-up time was at least 1 year.
Mean preoperative IOP was 27.1 ± 5.3 mm Hg. It decreased to 13.6 ± 1.6 mm Hg at 6 months, 13 ± 1.5 mm Hg at 9 months and 13.1 ± 2.2 mm Hg at 12 months (P < .001).
Complete success, defined as an IOP of 21 mm Hg or less, 18 mm Hg or less, and 16 mm Hg or less with no medications and a 30% IOP reduction, was 91%, 91% and 91%, respectively, at 6 months and 86%, 82% and 82%, respectively, at 12 months.
There was a decrease in the number of medications used, from 2.9 ± 0.6 preoperatively to 0.05 ± 0.2 postoperatively (P < .001).
No major complications were reported; minor complications included microhyphema in eight eyes and transient elevated IOP in two eyes.
“From a technical perspective, some issues regarding [the expander’s] IOP-lowering mechanism are to be addressed, that is, creation of the trabeculo-Descemet membrane window with egress of aqueous humor into the scleral lake, circumferential viscodilation and expansion of the canal by the expander,” the study authors said. – by Robert Linnehan
Disclosure: The authors report having a proprietary interest in the device.