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Updated: Jan 4, 2026
Full-Circle Cauterization of Limbal Vascular Plexus for Surgically Induced Glaucoma in Rodents
Published on: February 15, 2022
[360° trabeculotomy for pediatric glaucoma]
1Deutsches Kinder Glaukomzentrum Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Deutschland. ehoffman@uni-mainz.de.
Insights
Congenital glaucoma, a serious childhood eye condition, can cause blindness. Surgical interventions like 360° trabeculotomy offer successful treatment outcomes for most affected children.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Surgical Innovation
Background:
- Congenital glaucoma is a severe condition causing blindness if untreated, characterized by rapid eye growth (buphthalmos) due to high intraocular pressure shortly after birth.
- The primary cause is dysgenesis of the iridocorneal angle, necessitating early surgical intervention.
- While classical probe trabeculotomy has been standard since 1960, newer techniques are emerging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present the established 360° trabeculotomy procedure for treating congenital glaucoma.
- To explain the methodology of the 360° trabeculotomy using an illuminated catheter.
- To discuss the outcomes and efficacy of this advanced surgical technique.
Main Methods:
- The 360° trabeculotomy involves dilating the canal of Schlemm with an illuminated catheter filled with viscoelastic material.
- The trabecular meshwork is then opened internally by manipulating the catheter ends.
- This technique allows for a comprehensive opening compared to the 120° approach of classical probe trabeculotomy.
Main Results:
- The 360° trabeculotomy has become an established procedure in recent years.
- The technique aims to improve surgical outcomes for congenital glaucoma.
- The article details the results achieved with this method.
Conclusions:
- Congenital glaucoma requires prompt surgical treatment for successful outcomes.
- The 360° trabeculotomy represents a significant advancement in surgical options for childhood glaucoma.
- This procedure offers a promising approach for managing congenital glaucoma, with the potential for high success rates (80-90%).
Abstract:
Congenital glaucoma disease leads to blindness if left untreated. It is estimated that 1 child in 10,000 in Germany is born with congenital glaucoma. In adults the disease develops slowly and insidiously, whereas congenital glaucoma leads to a rapid growth of the eye (buphthalmos) mostly directly after birth due to a very high intraocular pressure. The cause is dysgenesis of the iridocorneal angle. Successful operative treatment of congenital glaucoma is possible in the majority of cases (approximately 80-90%). The treatment of childhood glaucoma is primarily surgical. Since 1960 classical probe trabeculotomy has been the most commonly used procedure, which has the advantage that unlike goniotomy, it can also be performed in cases with clouding of the cornea. In this surgery the canal of Schlemm is probed and the inner wall as well as the trabecular meshwork is opened inwardly over approximately 120°. In recent years the 360° trabeculotomy procedure has become established, in which an illuminated catheter filled with viscoelastic material is used (as with conventional canaloplasty) to dilate the canal of Schlemm. The trabecular meshwork is then inwardly opened by pulling on the ends of the catheter. The results of this method are explained in this article.
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