Canaloplasty in Corticosteroid-Induced Glaucoma. Preliminary Results

to present the mid-term results of canaloplasty in a small cohort of corticosteroid glaucoma patients.

Nine eyes from seven patients with various types of corticosteroid glaucoma in maximum medical therapy underwent canaloplasty. Patients underwent complete ophthalmic examination every six months. Success was defined as: post-operative intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤ 21 mmHg and ≤ 16 mmHg without ("complete success"), and with/without medical treatment ("qualified success"). The IOP reduction had to be ≥ 20. The number of medications before and after surgery was considered. The follow-up mean period was 32.7 ± 20.8 months (range 14-72 months).

The pre-operative mean IOP was 30.7 ± 7.2 mmHg (range: 24-45). The mean IOP at 6 and 12-month follow-up was 13.1 ± 2.6 mmHg, and 13.7 ± 1.9 mmHg, respectively. Qualified and complete success at 6 and 12 months was 100% for both of the two definitions. The number of medications used preoperatively and at the 12-month follow-up was 4.3 ± 0.7, and 0.2 ± 1.0, respectively. No serious complication was observed.

The mid-term results of canaloplasty in patients with corticosteroid-induced glaucoma appear to be very promising. Canaloplasty should be considered as a possible alternative to filtering surgery in this form of glaucoma, when medical therapy is not sufficient to maintain the IOP within reasonable limits.