Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the efficacy of circumferential viscodilation and tensioning of Schlemm’s canal (canaloplasty) in lowering intraocular pressure in our patient population.
Methods: :
Medical records of each patient undergoing canaloplasty in our institution to date were retrospectively reviewed. Main outcome measures included intraocular pressure (IOP) pre-operatively and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-operatively, number of IOP lowering medications required at each visit, and the need for further surgery.
Results: :
Our cohort consists of the first 46 patients undergoing canaloplasty in our institution. The mean baseline IOP was 22.9 +/- 7.6 (SD) mmHg on a mean of 2.8 +/- 0.8 (SD) medications per patient. The mean IOP at 1 month (N=46) was 16.8 +/- 6.3 mmHg; at 3 months (N=41) 14.9 +/- 5.5 mmHg; and at 6 months (N=31) 14.9 +/- 4.8 mmHg. This represents a 26.6% reduction of IOP at 1 month, and a 34.9% reduction in IOP at 3 and 6 months. The number of medications decreased to a mean of 1.0 +/- 1.2 per patient at 6 months, a 64.3% reduction. Few patients required repeat surgery for IOP control, with 4 patients (8.7%) receiving a Baerveldt implant and 2 patients (4.3%) receiving an Ahmed implant.
Conclusions: :
Canaloplasty is an effective surgical procedure for the lowering of intraocular pressure in our patient population at 6 months. Further follow-up is needed to assess the long-term efficacy of this procedure.
Keywords: intraocular pressure • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications • outflow: trabecular meshwork