Abstract
Purpose :
Bleb development (BD) is crucial for the success of filtration surgery. The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of anterior segment OCT (asOCT) to describe bleb formation after Gel-Stent-Implantation (XEN).
Methods :
AsOCT scans (HRA OCT II Spectralis) were recorded in 47 eyes of 47 patients (26 female, 21 male, mean age 73 ± 12 years) 1-50 days postoperatively. BD morphology was classified as microcystic (m), mixed (mx) or absent (a) by asOCT scans. Correlation between BD, postoperative IOP (intraocular pressure) and ocular therapy (TX) was analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics Version 19.
Results :
Bleb classification resulted in n= 25 (group m), n=22 (group mx) and n=0 (group a). Mean IOP reduction is 6.9 ± 9.5 mmHg in the whole study cohort (p<0.001). IOP drops in group "m“ from 18.4±4.1 mmHg to 13.4 ± 6.3 mmHg and in group "g“ from 22.9±8,4mmHg to 13.8±7.1mmHg (p=0.909). Number of TX reduces in group "m“ from 2.9±1.1 to 0.6±1.0 and in group "g“ from 2.7±1.1 to 0.9±1.2 (p=0.166).
The difference between the classifications are not significant for postoperative IOP (p=0.949) and preoperative TX (p=0.789). There is no correlation between preoperative TX and postoperative IOP (p=0.377).
Conclusions :
IOP pressure reduction after Xen implantation is significant. Bleb morphology can be visualized by asOCT. In the early postoperative phase after XEN-Stent Implantation we found no influence of preoperative TX on postoperative IOP. A longer observation time and larger patient cohort are necessary to evaluate whether BD changes longterm after Gel-Stent and whether bleb formation may be modified by therapeutical modulations.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.