External trabeculectomy with T-Flux implant

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Glaucoma Surgery
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Primary open-angle glaucoma requires effective intraocular pressure (IOP) management.
• Nonpenetrating glaucoma surgery offers an alternative to traditional filtering procedures.
• The T-Flux implant is a novel device for enhancing aqueous drainage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy and safety of the T-Flux implant in nonpenetrating glaucoma surgery.
• To evaluate the impact of external trabeculectomy with T-Flux (ETTF) on IOP control.
• To determine the complication profile of ETTF in patients with medically uncontrolled glaucoma.

Main Methods:

• A clinical interventional case series involving 35 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.
• External trabeculectomy with T-Flux (ETTF) procedure, involving scleral tissue removal and T-Flux implant insertion.
• Preoperative and postoperative assessments included IOP, visual acuity, visual fields, and funduscopy over 12 months.

Main Results:

• Significant IOP reduction from 32.88 mmHg preoperatively to 15.44 mmHg at 12 months post-ETTF.
• Reduced need for antiglaucoma medications from 2.74 to 0.11 per patient.
• Low incidence of complications, including transient microhyphema and minor perforations; visual acuity and fields remained stable.

Conclusions:

• External trabeculectomy with T-Flux (ETTF) demonstrates significant efficacy in controlling intraocular pressure.
• The T-Flux implant facilitates enhanced aqueous drainage in nonpenetrating glaucoma surgery.
• ETTF presents a safe and effective surgical option for managing medically uncontrolled primary open-angle glaucoma.