A comparison of intrascleral bleb height by anterior segment OCT using three different implants in deep sclerectomy.

PURPOSE: To compare intrascleral blebs characteristics after deep sclerectomy (DS) with three intrascleral implants using the Visante anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study including 60 eyes of 51 patients that underwent DS with Sk-Gel, Esnoper, and Aquaflow implant. Intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement, slit-lamp examination, and Visante scans were performed the same day in all the patients. Visante scans were done through the intrascleral bleb at 45°, 90°, and 135° and the bleb height was measured.

RESULTS

Sk-Gel was used in 19 eyes (31.66%), Esnoper in 22 eyes (36.66%), and Aquaflow in 19 eyes (31.66%). The median time lapsed from the surgery was 15.50 months 25th and 75th percentiles (p(25) 8.25; p(75) 20). The median IOP was 13 mm Hg (p(25) 10; p(75) 15), with no significant differences among implants (P = 0.232). Overall, the correlation between the scleral bleb height and the IOP was statistically significant at 45° (r=-0.359; P = 0.004), 90° (r = -0.410; P = 0.001), and 135° (r = -0.417; P = 0.001). However, Sk-Gel did not show any statistically significant correlation between the scleral height and IOP whereas the other two groups (Esnoper and Aquaflow) showed a significant correlation. There were no differences in the bleb height among implants.

CONCLUSION

There was a moderate inverse correlation between the scleral bleb height and the IOP measurement after DS with Esnoper and Aquaflow implants. There were no differences in bleb height among the three implants.