Long-Term Outcome After Canaloplasty and Phacocanaloplasty in Primary Open Angle Glaucoma.

PRÉCIS: Canaloplasty and phacocanaloplasty achieve a statistically significant intraocular pressure (IOP)-reduction for up to 11 years and decrease the long-term need for glaucoma medications. Both procedures have a low long-term complication rate.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term outcome of canaloplasty with and without cataract surgery in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

In all, 48 eyes of 34 patients with POAG who successfully received canaloplasty alone (group A, n=28) or with phacoemulsification (group B, n=20) were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic data, IOP, and IOP-lowering medication were recorded presurgery and postsurgery with a follow-up of up to 14 years.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up time in group A was 91.4±45.0 months. Mean IOP dropped from 22.0±3.8 mm Hg at baseline to 14.0±3.3, 14.3±3.1, 14.4±3.8, and 16.5±1.2 mm Hg at 1, 4, 7, and 10 years, respectively. IOP-lowering medication count decreased from 1.5±1.0 at baseline to 0.1±0.4, 0.3±0.6, 0.6±0.9, and 0.9±1.1 at 1, 4, 7, and 10 years, respectively. The mean follow-up time in group B was 109.1±25.7 months. Mean IOP dropped from 24.5±6.0 at baseline to 13.8±2.9, 14.9±3.6, 15.3±2.9, and 14.8±2.0 mm Hg at 1, 4, 7, and 10 years, respectively. IOP-lowering medication count decreased from 2.2±1.2 before surgery to 0.0, 0.1±0.3, 0.1±0.2, and 0.5±0.9 at 1, 4, 7, and 10 years, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Canaloplasty and phacocanaloplasty achieved a comparable decrease in IOP and glaucoma medication count with a low complication rate. Both procedures showed a high long-term success rate.