Severe Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Agricultural Profession: A Retrospective Cohort Study

While exposure to pesticides is a known risk factor for neurodegenerative brain diseases, little is known about the influence of environment on glaucoma neuropathy. We aimed to determine whether farmers are at higher risk of developing severe primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). This retrospective cohort study (tertiary referral center, Reims University Hospital, France) included patients diagnosed with POAG in the last two years. Univariate analysis and adjusted multivariate logistic regression were performed to evaluate the association between agricultural profession and all recorded data. Glaucoma severity (primary outcome) and the number of patients who underwent filtering surgery (secondary outcome) were analyzed. In total, 2065 records were screened, and 772 patients were included (66 in the farmer group and 706 in the nonfarmer group). The risk of severe glaucoma was higher in the farmer group (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.87, p = 0.03). More patients underwent filtering surgery in the farmer group in univariate analysis (p = 0.02) but with no statistical significance after adjustment (p = 0.08). These results suggest pesticide exposure may be a factor accelerating the neurodegeneration in POAG, although a direct link between the agricultural profession and the disease requires further extended studies to be demonstrated.

Ultrasound Cyclo Plasty for Treatment of Surgery-Naïve Open-Angle Glaucoma Patients: A Prospective, Multicenter, 2-Year Follow-Up Trial

Background: The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Ultrasound Cyclo Plasty (UCP) procedure using high-intensity focused ultrasound in surgery-naïve open-angle glaucoma patients. Methods: prospective, non-randomized, single-arm, multicenter clinical trial. Sixty-six eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma, intraocular pressure (IOP) ≥21 mmHg and with no history of filtering surgery were enrolled. Patients were treated by UCP with a therapy probe comprising six piezoelectric transducers, consecutively activated for 8 s each. Complete ophthalmic examination was performed before the procedure, 1 day after the procedure, and 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after the procedure. Primary outcomes were complete success (defined as IOP lowering from baseline ≥20% without additional glaucoma medications) and vision-threatening complications. Secondary outcomes were the presence of complications and the reduction of the number of medications used. Results: IOP was significantly reduced after one procedure (p < 0.05), from a mean pre-operative value of 24.3 ± 2.9 mmHg (n = 2.3 hypotensive medications) to a mean value of 15.9 ± 3.6 mmHg (n = 2.2 hypotensive medications) at 2 years (mean IOP lowering of 33%). Surgical success was achieved in 74% of eyes. Notwithstanding side effects such as transient anterior chamber inflammation, refractive error changes, transient hypotony and macular edema, no major intra or post-operative complications such as phthisis, induced cataract, neovascularization or significant vision loss were observed. Conclusions: Ultrasound Cyclo Plasty is a valuable, effective and well-tolerated procedure to lower IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma without previous filtering surgery.

A Novel Procedure for the Management of Severe Hyphema after Glaucoma Filtering Surgery: Air–Blood Exchange under a Slit-Lamp Biomicroscopy

Background and Objectives: This study introduces a novel office-based procedure involving air–blood exchange under a slit-lamp microscope for treatment of severe hyphema after filtering surgery. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 17 patients (17 eyes) with a diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma with severe hyphema (≥4-mm height) after filtering surgery. All patients were treated with air–blood exchange under a slit-lamp using room air (12 patients) or 12% perfluoropropane (C3F8; five patients). Results: The procedures were successful in all 17 patients; they exhibited clear visual axes without complications during follow-up. In the room air group, the mean visual acuity (VA) and hyphema height significantly improved from 1.70 ± 1.07 LogMAR and 5.75 ± 1.14 mm before the procedure to 0.67 ± 0.18 LogMAR and 2.83 ± 0.54 mm after the procedure (p = 0.004; p < 0.001). In the C3F8 group, the mean VA showed a trend, though not significant, for improvement from 1.70 ± 1.10 LogMAR to 0.70 ± 0.19 LogMAR (p = 0.08); the mean hyphema height showed a trend for improvement from 5.40 ± 0.96 mm to 3.30 ± 0.45 mm. Compared with the C3F8 group, the room air group showed the same efficacy with a shorter VA recovery time. Conclusions: “Air–blood exchange under a slit-lamp using room air” is a convenient, rapid, inexpensive, and effective treatment option for severe hyphema after filtering surgery, and may reduce the risk of failure of filtering surgery.

Acute Glaucoma Filtering Surgery Failure following Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus Infection

Herein, we report a case of acute failure of a previously successful trabeculectomy, following an infection with herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO). HZO remains a common infection, especially among elderly and immunocompromised patients. There is a strong link between HZO infection, the incidence of secondary glaucoma, and the need for glaucoma filtering surgery. Though, to our knowledge, there are no cases reporting on the effect that a concomitant infection may have on a previously successful trabeculectomy. In our case, a 76-year-old immunocompetent male with primary open-angle glaucoma in both eyes and a history of a successful right eye trabeculectomy 1 year earlier presented with acute primary HZO involving the ophthalmic branch of the right trigeminal nerve. Appropriate topical and systemic treatment was immediately initiated. Three days later, the trabeculectomy bleb showed hyperemia and flattening and concomitant rise of intraocular pressure was noted. A week later, the cutaneous signs were improving yet the trabeculectomy had failed and high intraocular pressure was established, requiring both topical and systemic antiglaucoma medications. Our study suggests that a previously successful trabeculectomy may manifest signs of compromise and subsequent failure following a HZO infection.

Overview of MIGS

The term, minimally- or micro-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), has entered common ophthalmic parlance and is playing an increasing role in the management of glaucoma patients. In common, the devices and procedures referred to are safer, less tissue invasive and associated with faster recovery than traditional filtering surgery, such as trabeculectomy or aqueous shunt implantation. MIGS can be categorized according to the tissue they target (or bypass): trabecular meshwork (TM) MIGS, subconjunctival MIGS, suprachoroidal MIGS and newer cycloablation procedures. A number of MIGS devices and techniques (e.g. TM MIGS) have relatively modest efficacy, but potential utility in a very large group of glaucoma patients with disease that is insufficiently severe to justify the invasiveness of conventional filtration surgery and the consequent intensity of postoperative care yet, burdened with medication and the attendant side effects and compliance issues thereof. On the other hand, subconjunctival MIGS devices, which are associated with bleb-related complications, can potentially achieve efficacy approaching that of traditional filtering surgery and are appropriate in selected individuals when larger IOP reductions are required, the exception being cases where glaucoma is very advanced. This book covers the techniques that are most commonly regarded as eligible to sit under the MIGS umbrella. Irrespective of the modest efficacy of many MIGS devices and techniques, the favourable safety profile lowers the threshold for early glaucoma surgery, especially when combined with cataract surgery, potentially delaying the requirement for more invasive surgery and associated risks.