[Canaloplasty ab interno - a Minimally Invasive Alternative]

Purpose Description and evaluation of the technique and efficacy of canaloplasty ab interno (ABIC) in patients with open angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods In this monocentric series of consecutive cases, patients with cataract and open angle glaucoma (combined operation) and pseudophacic patients (mean age: 78 years, range 66-90 years), and suffering from POAG were included. All of them were operated with ABIC by using the iTrack™ 250 µ-microcatheter (Ellex Medical Lasers Pty Ltd, Adelaide, Australia), in order to circumferentially vasodilate Schlemm's canal without implanting a suture to increase tension. Primary endpoints were the mean IOP (intraocular pressure) after 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months surgery. Results Twenty-three patients (23 eyes) were included in the study. Mean IOP without a preoperative wash-out phase was reduced from 18.8 ± 5.63 mmHg preoperatively to 14.9 ± 2.90 mmHg (n = 22), 13.82 ± 2.98 (n = 19), 14.69 ± 2.36 mmHg (n = 13), 16.0 ± 2.09 (n = 11) and 14.73 ± 2.97 (n = 11) at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after surgery. Mean medication was reduced from 1.69 to 0.21 at the last follow-up. The only complication was limited descemetolysis near the limbus. Conclusion The initial results in this study indicate that ABIC reduces IOP and that the dependance on medication is comparable to that with ab externo canaloplasty.