Clinical Outcomes of Preserflo MicroShunt versus Trabeculectomy: A Retrospective 6-Month Study

To characterize and compare the efficacy and safety of trabeculectomy and Preserflo microshunt (PMS) implantation in patients with openangle glaucoma.

This retrospective 6-month study included 100 eyes (100 patients). The 100 patients were divided into two groups of 50 patients, who were randomly assigned to either trabeculectomy or PMS implantation with mmC (0.4 mg/ml) applied using saturated sponges. The patients attended follow-up checks at 1, 8, 30, and 90 days postoperatively and at 6 months postoperatively. Endothelial cells were assessed at 3 and 6 months respectively. The main observed parameters were intraocular pressure (IOP), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), anterior chamber depth (ACD), corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal endothelial cell density (CECD), coefficient of variation (CV), and antiglaucoma treatment.

In patients after trabeculectomy and after PMS implantation a comparable reduction in mean IOP values of 40.2% and 45.8% respectively was recorded for both surgical approaches in comparison with the preoperative mean IOP values. In all the studied patients, regardless of the type of surgical procedure, a significant reduction of CECD values was recorded 6 months after surgery. However, PMS implantation led to a greater reduction in antiglaucoma treatment postoperatively compared to trabeculectomy. Qualified success was almost identical in the case of both operations throughout the entire course, complete success was higher in favor of PMS at the beginning of the observation, but their values converged or met from approximately day 90 to month 6.

The performed clinical evaluation of the efficacy and safety of PMS implantation compared to the classical surgical approach using trabeculectomy showed positive results related primarily to the reduction of postoperative complications, while maintaining the effectiveness of the surgical procedure. However, further clinical studies with a longer follow-up period are needed in order to provide long-term evidence of clinical efficacy.