Microinvasive glaucoma surgeries

Abstract

Because of the complications of current penetrating glaucoma surgeries as in trabeculectomy or glaucoma drainage devices, there is now an increased interest in newly introduced microinvasive glaucoma surgeries, which provide a safer and not a less-efficient alternative for such procedures, along with a decrease in dependence of glaucoma medications postoperatively. The microscopic implants can be implanted by following either an ab-interno approach (e.g. iStent, CyPass, Trabectome, and Xen Gel microshunt) or an ab-externo approach (e.g. Ex-Press minishunt and canaloplasty). The procedures aim to utilize the trabecular pathway, suprachoroidal space, or the subconjunctival space to increase aqueous drainage. These procedures can be performed in conjunction with phacoemulsification to augment the intraocular pressure-lowering effect, and the devices can be implanted during the same session without or with minimal additional risk.