Central 10-degree visual field change following non-penetrating deep sclerectomy in severe and end-stage glaucoma:...

To report the impact of non-penetrating deep sclerectomy (NPDS) in severe and end-stage glaucoma treatment on the central 10° visual field progression (mean deviation, four central points, foveal threshold) and assess the risk of sudden visual loss.

Monocenter database study. We reviewed records of 34 eyes with severe or end-stage glaucoma that underwent NPDS between 2009 and 2015, at the National Ophthalmology Center of XV-XX (Paris, France). Severe and end-stage glaucoma were defined according to the Bascom Palmer Modified Glaucoma Staging System classification. All eyes had a constricted visual field < 10° (severe injury by the Humphrey visual field automated (HVFA) 10-2). Visual fields were recorded every 6 months after the procedure. Data from the last visit was used for the statistical analysis.

The mean follow-up duration was 29 months (range 6 to 54) and 33 (97%) eyes were followed for more than 1 year. There were no cases of postoperative sudden visual loss. The intraocular pressure (IOP) decreased from 21.9 ± 8.1 to 15.0 ± 5.4 mmHg (P < .001). Twenty-eight (82%) eyes had an IOP < 21 mmHg and 19 (56%) an IOP < 16 mmHg. The MD 10-2 remained stable (- 19.8 ± 7.4 to - 19.4 ± 8.1 dB, non-significant improvement of + 0.4 dB, P = .1). The MD 10-2 slope showed an insignificant improvement of + 0.25 ± 1.8 dB per year (dB/y) (P = 0.1), but this slope was significantly better when the IOP was reduced to < 16 mmHg than when the IOP was ≥ 16 mmHg at the last visit (+ 0.84  1.2 versus - 0.48 ± 2.2 dB/y, P = .05). The mean number of the four central test points with sensitivity ≤ 5 dB and the change in mean sensitivity of the four central field points remained stable. There were no significant changes in the VFI (from 25.4% ± 13 to 25.8% ± 20) and in foveal threshold.

NPDS appears to provide stability of the central 10° visual field (with a trend towards improvement but non-significant) with no occurrence of "wipe-out" phenomenon and few other complications. Consideration of NPDS in end-stage and severe glaucoma is advisable given its low risk of complications and its considerable IOP decrease with a relative stability of the central visual field.