Early Outcomes of Combined Phacoemulsification and Ab Interno Tanito Microhook Trabeculotomy in Open-Angle Glaucoma

Purpose

To study the early postoperative efficacy and safety of an Ab Interno microhook trabeculotomy (microLOT) combined with cataract surgery in patients with open-angle glaucoma.

Methods

This prospective, randomized, interventional study was conducted on consecutive patients with visually significant cataract and mild-moderate open-angle glaucoma. One hundred fourteen patients were included for analysis. The patients were randomized to undergo microhook trabeculotomy with phacoemulsification (group 1) or phacoemulsification alone (group 2). All patients were evaluated on postoperative day 1, 15, and 30, as well as 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Baseline and follow-up visits were compared to determine significant differences in the number of antiglaucoma medications (AGMs), intraocular pressure (IOP), and best-corrected visual acuity.

Results

There were 57 patients in each group. The baseline characteristics were similar between the 2 groups, except the number of AGMs, which was greater in group 2. The mean preoperative IOP for group 1 (phaco-microLOT) was 26.5 mmHg ± 5.2 and group 2 (phaco-alone group) was 25.3 mmHg ± 3.1 which decreased to 12.5 mmHg ±3.6 (P < 0.001) and 20.0 mmHg ± 2.7(P < 0.001) at 12 months, respectively. Logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity improved from 0.48 (interquartile range [IQR], 0.30–0.60) preoperatively to 0.00 (0.00–0.18) postoperatively (P < 0001) in group 1 and improved from 0.30 (IQR, 0.30–0.48) to 0.00 (0.00–0.00) in group 2 (P < 0.001). In group 1, the mean (standard deviation [SD]) AGM used preoperatively was 0.6 (0.9) which was significantly reduced to 0.2 (0.5) at 12 months postoperatively, whereas in group 2, at 12 months, the mean (SD) AGM used was reduced from 1.4 (0.6) to 1.1 (0.9). In group 1, 90.3% of eyes achieved complete success at the end of 1 year. The most common complication was hyphema, noted in 4 patients with 1 eye requiring an anterior chamber washout.

Conclusion

Ab interno microhook trabeculotomy (microLOT) combined with phacoemulsification in patients with open-angle glaucoma is an efficacious procedure with relatively minimal complications.

Financial Disclosure(s)

Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.