Are there filtering blebs after canaloplasty?

PURPOSE: Aim of the study was to assess the development of filtering blebs after canaloplasty.

METHODS

Twenty eyes of 20 consecutive patients receiving canaloplasty were included. All eyes were examined clinically (slit lamp), and by anterior segment optical coherence tomography and high-frequency ultrasound biomicroscopy to detect filtering blebs. Preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) and medications were recorded. No antimetabolites were used at any time. Two success criteria were defined to assess a possible correlation of bleb formation and success: (1) IOP ≤21 mm Hg and minimum 20% IOP reduction without medication and (2) IOP <18 mm Hg without medication.

RESULTS

No filtering blebs were detected clinically. One patient had a filtering bleb-like structure as detected by anterior segment optical coherence tomography and ultrasound biomicroscopy. Mean IOP decreased significantly from 22.15±9.5 mm Hg preoperatively to 13.3±9.9 mm Hg at last follow-up (at 245±120.0 d). The number of medications was reduced significantly from 3.15±1.2 preoperatively to 0.55±0.94 postoperatively. Complete success rate was 65% for both success criteria.

CONCLUSIONS

Filtering blebs occur rarely after canaloplasty. In canaloplasty, IOP reduction seems to be independent of subconjunctival aqueous drainage, thus, avoiding the problems of conjunctival scarring.