[Canaloplasty ab interno - a Minimally Invasive Alternative].

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Glaucoma Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Procedures

Background:

• Open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness.
• Effective IOP management is crucial to prevent glaucomatous optic neuropathy.
• Current surgical options aim to improve aqueous humor outflow.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the technique and efficacy of canaloplasty ab interno (ABIC) for POAG treatment.
• To assess the impact of ABIC on intraocular pressure (IOP) and medication requirements.
• To compare ABIC outcomes with established canaloplasty procedures.

Main Methods:

• A monocentric series of consecutive cases involving patients with POAG undergoing combined cataract and ABIC surgery.
• Utilized the iTrack™ 250µ-microcatheter for circumferential dilation of Schlemm's canal.
• Primary endpoints included mean IOP measurements at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-surgery.

Main Results:

• Mean IOP significantly reduced from 18.8 mmHg preoperatively to 14.7 mmHg at 12 months post-surgery.
• Average medication use decreased from 1.69 to 0.21 post-procedure.
• The primary complication observed was localized descemetolysis near the limbus.

Conclusions:

• ABIC demonstrates efficacy in reducing IOP for patients with POAG.
• The procedure leads to a significant decrease in glaucoma medication dependence.
• ABIC offers comparable outcomes to ab externo canaloplasty with a favorable safety profile.