Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation Research Articles

Current trends and advancements in utilizing endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation for the Treatment of Glaucoma.

Glaucoma ranks as the second most prevalent cause of global blindness. Presently, the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) stands as the sole efficacious method for addressing this condition. Endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) is designed to mitigate aqueous humor production by inducing coagulation or closure of the ciliary body. Since its inception in 1990s, ECP has emerged as a pivotal modality in the therapeutic armamentarium for glaucoma. This review primarily elucidates the instrumentation employed in ECP for the treatment of glaucoma, the mechanisms underlying its efficacy in glaucoma management, and a comparative analysis of ECP in relation to other modalities for anti-glaucoma treatment. Furthermore, it examines the contemporary clinical utilization of ECP in glaucoma therapy, as well as the prevalent postoperative complications and their preventive measures. We anticipate that the role of ECP in the treatment of glaucoma will persistently evolve alongside advancements in the field. Particularly noteworthy is its expanding applicability in glaucoma therapy and its increasingly vital role in personalized comprehensive treatment approaches.

1235 Challenges in Glaucoma Management: A Case Study on OMNI® Surgical System Interventions for Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

Abstract Introduction This report explores the challenges faced in addressing early-stage primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in a 74-year-old male. Following a steroid-induced elevation in intraocular pressure (IOP) after endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) in the right eye, the patient underwent minimally invasive canaloplasty and goniotomy using the OMNI® Surgical System (Sight Sciences) on his left eye. Case Description IOPs at diagnosis measured at 28 mmHg and 27 mmHg in the right and left eye, respectively, leading to the prescription of bilateral latanoprost. An adverse reaction to latanoprost resulted in eye swelling, hyperaemia, facial and jaw discomfort, and photophobia, prompting the cessation of the medication. In December 2022, bilateral selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) was performed, with minimal impact on IOP. Subsequently, in March 2023, right cataract surgery with ECP successfully reduced right eye IOP to 16 mmHg. Postoperatively, the use of dexamethasone 0.1% drops caused an intraocular steroid-response, increasing IOP (maximal IOP =25 mmHg), resolving upon medication completion. To mitigate prolonged steroid drop-associated complications, left eye phacoemulsification with OMNI canaloplasty and goniotomy was conducted in June 2023. Standard 4-week low-frequency steroid drops were administered postoperatively with no complications. Conclusions Pressure control was successfully achieved with IOP normalization to 15 mmHg bilaterally. Significant visual acuity improvements were noted post ECP (right eye=6/24 to 6/6) and OMNI (left eye=6/7.5 to 6/6). This case highlights the efficacy of OMNI combined with phacoemulsification in the safe reduction of IOP and sustained IOP control in POAG patients, alluding to its favourable safety profile.

The Effects of the STREAMLINE™ Surgical System versus Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation in Primary and Secondary Glaucoma

Introduction: Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy that is the second most common cause of blindness worldwide and affects over three million Americans. Currently, the only known modifiable risk factor to prevent glaucomatous damage is to decrease the intraocular pressure (IOP). The STREAMLINE™ Surgical System (SSS) is a microinvasive glaucoma (MIGs) device that can create a goniotomy and dilates the drainage system of the eye to reduce IOP. Question & Significance: This study aims to compare the effects on intraocular pressure of patients that had cataract surgery combined the SSS, endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP), or ECP with SSS in patients with primary and secondary glaucoma’s for 6 months post operatively. Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of patients that had cataract surgery with either ECP, SSS, or SSS + ECP from April 1st, 2022 through April 1st, 2023. Primary endpoints were mean IOP reductions and medication reliance at 6 months compared to baseline. Secondary outcomes were best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), number of patients with  20% decrease in IOP, number of patients with a decrease in IOP lower medications, and significant complications after treatment. Results: Comparing 6-month post-operative mean IOPs in these treatment groups, a significant reduction was noted only in the ECP group at the 6-month visit (p<0.003). No statistically significant reduction was found in either the SSS (p=0.333) or SSS+ECP (p=0.134) groups. The percent of patients having a  20% decrease in IOP from baseline were 52%, 10%, and 38% for ECP, SSS, and SSS+ECP groups, respectively. Conclusions: In the SSS only group, we found a significantly smaller proportion of patients able to achieve the  20% IOP reduction at only 10% of patients compared to other previous studies. This difference is likely due no medication washout in our study. This study did find similar decrease in IOP lowering medications.

Endoscopic laser cyclophotocoagulation, safety, and efficacy of clinical application

Endoscopic laser cyclophotocoagulation, safety, and efficacy of clinical application

Long-term efficacy and safety of posterior endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation in refractory glaucoma: A 5-year follow-up study at a tertiary eye center

PurposeTo evaluate the long-term efficacy of endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) via a pars plana approach in a large cohort of refractory glaucoma patients DesignSingle-center, retrospective, longitudinal, cohort study. MethodsThis study recruited patients who underwent ECP and consecutively visited and were followed up for at least 5 years at Beijing Tongren Eye Center, China from January 2013 to December 2017. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmic examination. Treatment success was defined as 6 mmHg ≤ IOP ≤ 21 mmHg with or without anti-glaucoma medications. ResultsA total of 121 eyes of 105 patients including 51 children and 54 adults were enrolled. The mean follow-up was 7.2 ± 1.3 years. The most common glaucoma diagnoses were secondary glaucoma (74 eyes, 61.1 %) and primary congenital glaucoma (19 eyes 15.7 %). The mean extent of the first ECP was 259 degrees. There was an overall decrease in IOP of 38.3 % from 33.3 ± 9.0 mmHg preoperatively to 20.5 ± 7.5 mmHg after surgery, which was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The success rate after 1 or more ECP surgery was 65.3 %. After adjusting for sex, number of prior TCP surgeries and the extent of ECP degree, the failure of ECP was associated with being children (as compared with adults; P = 0.028; OR = 2.549) and higher preoperative IOP (P = 0.001; OR = 1.084). ConclusionECP is an effective procedure for lowing IOP in refractory glaucoma, particularly in patients who are also candidates for vitreoretinal interventions. Hence, a collaborative approach between glaucoma and retinal specialists is of utmost importance in devising an optimal management strategy for glaucoma treatment.

Combined Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation and Phacoemulsification Versus Phacoemulsification Alone in the Glaucoma Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The complete safety and efficacy of endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) remainunclear in the literature and, to our knowledge, there are no current meta-analyses on phaco-ECP versus phacoemulsification alone to date. Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing these two strategies through studies, assessing the effectiveness and safety of outcomes in a population with glaucoma. The protocol for this systematic reviewwas registered in the PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42023482376). We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from inception to December 2023. A random-effects model was used for all analyses due to heterogeneity. Review Manager 5.3 (Cochrane Centre, The Cochrane Collaboration, Denmark) was used for statistical analysis. Finally, nine studies were included in this comprehensive review and a total of 5389 eyes were analyzed in our study. In comparison to the ECP and phacoemulsification group, those receiving phacoemulsification alone showed better results in best-corrected visual acuity(MD 0.09; CI 95% 0.03 to 0.16; I²=0%), but worse outcomes in intraocular pressure (IOP) (MD -1.49; 95% CI -2.29 to -0.68; I²=29%) and use medications (MD -0.75; 95% CI -0.94 to -0.56; I²=0%) in the last visit. Complication rates, both general and serious, were significantly different between the groups, indicating the potential impact of combined procedures on patient outcomes. Thus, combining ECP with phacoemulsification for glaucoma treatment showed sustained IOP reduction and decreased medication dependence. However, higher complication rates suggest careful consideration of risks. More extensive research with larger trials and longer follow-ups is needed to validate findings and address limitations, providing valuable insights into this treatment approach.

Continuous Wave Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation and Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation in Childhood Glaucoma: A Meta-Analysis.

Transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TS-CPC) and endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) were effective in reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) and glaucoma medications in childhood glaucoma. To report the outcomes of continuous wave TS-CPC and ECP in childhood glaucoma. We performed a systematic search of relevant databases. We collected data on age, follow-up duration, type of glaucoma, previous surgical interventions, preoperative and postoperative IOP, preoperative and postoperative number of glaucoma medications, adverse events, number of sessions, and success rates at different time points. The main outcome measures are the amount of IOP and glaucoma medication reduction. We included 17 studies studying 526 patients (658 eyes); 11 evaluated the effectiveness of TS-CPC (268 patients, 337 eyes), 5 evaluated ECP (159 patients, 197 eyes), and one study compared both techniques (56 patients, 72 eyes for TS-CPC vs 43 patients, 52 eyes for ECP). The median duration of follow-up was 28 months in the TS-CPC group and 34.4 months in the ECP group. The mean number of treatment sessions was 1.7 in the TS-CPC and 1.3 in the ECP. In the TS-CPC group, the mean IOP was significantly reduced from 31.2 ± 8 to 20.8 ± 8 mm Hg at the last follow-up ( P < 0.001). The mean number of glaucoma medications was reduced from 2.3 ± 1.3 to 2.2 ± 1.3 ( P = 0.37). In the ECP group, there was also a significant reduction in the mean IOP from 32.9 ± 8 mm Hg with a mean of 1.7 ± 0.7 glaucoma medications to 22.6 ± 9.8 mm Hg ( P < 0.0001) on 1.2 ± 1.1 medications ( P = 0.009) at the last follow-up. Both TS-CPC and ECP were effective in reducing the IOP and glaucoma medications in childhood glaucoma. Multiple treatment sessions were required.

Success of Endoscopic Laser Cyclophotocoagulation vs Repeat Transscleral Treatment after Prior Transscleral Cycloablation.

To compare the efficacy of endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) vs repeat transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TCP) in eyes with persistent glaucoma despite prior treatment with TCP. This was a retrospective chart review of glaucoma patients at the American University of Beirut Medical Center over 10 years who underwent ECP or repeat TCP. We reported qualified and complete success; success was defined as postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤21 mm Hg, with (qualified) or without medications (complete) and without procedure-related complications. This study included 23 eyes of 21 patients with various forms of uncontrolled glaucoma who had failed TCP. A total of 13 eyes of 12 patients underwent ECP with a mean age of 39.9 ± 23.2 years, and 10 eyes of nine patients underwent repeat TCP with a mean age of 27.2 ± 22.6 years. A significant decrease in IOP was observed from 38.5 ± 7.9 mm Hg preoperatively to 25.2 ± 8.8 mm Hg postrepeat TCP (p = 0.006) and from 33.0 ± 9.5 to 12.8 ± 3.9 mm Hg post-ECP (p < 0.001), noted at a mean follow-up time of 39.2 ± 44.4 and 41.5 ± 37.4 months, respectively. The mean number of antiglaucoma medications decreased in the two groups (from 3.8 ± 1.0 preoperatively to 1.8 ± 0.9 postoperatively for ECP and from 3.5 ± 1.3 to 3.1 ± 0.9 postoperatively for TCP); however, the drop was only statistically significant post-ECP. Qualified success was significantly higher after ECP vs repeat TCP (91.7 vs 40%, respectively). Complete success was achieved only in 1/12 (8.3%) eyes in the ECP group. Endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) performed in glaucomatous eyes previously treated with transscleral cycloablation provided more IOP control as compared to repeat TCP by directly treating viable tissue in previously skipped ciliary processes and in between processes. In glaucomatous eyes previously treated with transscleral cycloablation, ECP attained better IOP control than repeat transscleral cycloablation. Al-Haddad C, Barikian A, Moussawi ZE, et al. Success of Endoscopic Laser Cyclophotocoagulation vs Repeat Transscleral Treatment after Prior Transscleral Cycloablation. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2023;17(4):191-196.

Retrospective evaluation of surgical outcomes in canine patients with primary and secondary glaucoma following diode endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation.

To evaluate the long-term outcome of endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) for the treatment of primary and secondary glaucoma in dogs. Retrospective review of dogs that underwent ECP at two referral centers from 2004 to 2023. Medical records of 389 eyes (301 dogs) following ECP were reviewed. Outcomes evaluated included follow-up time, intraocular pressure (IOP), vision status, additional ECP procedures performed, number of medications, and complications. Patient and surgical variables and their association with IOP control and vision maintenance were evaluated. Median follow-up time was 18 months. IOP remained controlled in 90% and 95% of patients at 1 and 2 years, respectively, following ECP. IOP was controlled long-term (2 years) in cases with primary (88%) and secondary (99%) glaucoma. Post-operative vision was maintained in 63% and 49% of eyes at approximately 1 and 2 years, respectively. Median time to vision loss was 6.5 months. Repeat ECP was required in 15.4% of eyes at a median of 19 days post-operatively. Eyes that underwent more than one ECP surgery had a significantly longer median time to blindness (13.8 months) than those that underwent a single ECP procedure (3.6 months; p = .0003). The median number of anti-glaucoma medications decreased from three pre-operatively to one at 1- and 2-year post-operatively. Complications included corneal ulceration (28%), blinding hypotony (11%), retinal detachment (11%), and hyphema (10%). Endolaser cyclophotocoagulation is an effective surgery for maintaining long-term IOP control and extending vision in canine patients with glaucoma refractory to medical management.

Concurrent adjacent strabismus surgery with glaucoma drainage device placement in childhood glaucomas

BackgroundDetermine outcomes of concurrent strabismus surgery with placement of a glaucoma drainage device (GDD) in children.MethodsRetrospective review of pediatric patients who underwent simultaneous lateral rectus (LR) muscle surgery with superotemporal GDD placement. Strabismus and GDD success were defined as residual horizontal misalignment < 10 prism diopter (PD) and intraocular pressure (IOP) < 21 mmHg, no visually devastating complications, and no additional IOP-lowering surgeries.ResultsFifteen eyes of 13 patients (69% male) underwent LR surgery (14 recessions, 1 resection) for exotropia or esotropia simultaneous with GDD placement (13 Baerveldt, 2 Ahmed) at 8.34 ± 5.26 years. Preoperative visual acuity (VA) in operative eye (0.89 ± 0.54) was worse than non-operative eye (0.23 ± 0.44, p = 0.0032). Preoperative horizontal deviation was 38.3 ± 9.4 PD and LR recession was 7.4 ± 1.1 mm. At final follow-up, VA in operative eye (0.87 ± 0.52) was unchanged from preoperative (p = 0.4062). Final IOP was significantly decreased (12.4 ± 4.7 mmHg vs. 31.1 ± 11.4 mmHg, p = 0.0001) as was number of glaucoma medications (2.7 ± 1.7 vs. 1.1 ± 1.3, p = 0.0037). Five (38%) and 9 patients (69%) met criteria for strabismus and GDD success, respectively. Two eyes required tube revision and endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation and 2 eyes had additional strabismus surgery.ConclusionsConcurrent strabismus and GDD surgery decreased horizontal deviation and obtained IOP control. It is important to consider correction of strabismus at time of GDD placement to maximize visual development and improve cosmesis in children with glaucoma.

A comparative study of ultrasound cycloplasty and endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation in the treatment of secondary glaucoma

To compare the clinical efficacy of ultrasound cycloplasty (UCP) and endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) in the treatment of secondary glaucoma. In a 12-month prospective single-center study, 22 patients with secondary glaucoma were treated by high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), and 23 patients with secondary glaucoma were treated by a semiconductor laser. At the final follow-up, the two groups’ surgical outcomes were compared. A complete success was defined as an intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction of at least 20% from baseline and an IOP of > 5 mmHg and ≦ 21 mmHg, while a qualified success was defined as an IOP reduction of at least 20% from baseline and an IOP of > 5 mmHg. The secondary outcome was the average IOP, number of drugs, and complications at each follow-up compared with the baseline. The average preoperative IOPs in the UCP and ECP groups were 36.4 ± 9.5 mmHg (n = 2.3 drops, n = 0.2 tablets) and 34.5 ± 11.7 mmHg (n = 2.0 drops, n = 0.3 tablets), respectively. In the last follow-up, the success rate of UCP was 54% (with a decrease of 32%) and that of ECP was 65% (with a decrease of 35%), and the P-value between the two groups was > 0.05. However, there was a difference in the average IOP between these two groups 1 day and 1 week after the operation, and the IOP reduction efficiency in the ECP group was better. However, the amount of drug used after these two surgeries was significantly reduced. There were fewer postoperative complications in the UCP group (18 cases) than in the ECP group (35 cases). Both UCP and ECP can effectively reduce IOP in secondary glaucoma, and ECP has a better effect at the early stages. However, UCP has higher safety and tolerance for patients.

Влияние режима эндоскопической лазерной циклодеструкции на воспалительный ответ в передней камере глаза (экспериментально-клиническое исследование)

The selection of the surgical treatment method for glaucoma, as a means of controlling intraocular pressure and stabilizing the glaucomatous process, remains a major challenge in ophthalmology. Laser cyclodestructive interventions offer the possibility of regulating the power and duration of exposure, thus expanding the range of tasks the method can address. This study aimed to compare the degree of postoperative inflammatory response in the anterior chamber of the eye between cyclodestructive interventions with and without the realization of the vaporization biological effect. In the first experimental group of rabbit eyes, the intervention was performed before visual coagulation of the processes, with power ranging from 0.3 to 0.5 W. In the second group, the intervention was performed before the visual realization of the biological vaporization effect, with power ranging from 0.9 to 1.2 W. Clinical observations were retrospectively conducted within the studied group of patients who underwent combined (phacoemulsification + endoscopic laser cyclophotocoagulation) intervention. Throughout the comparison of experimental groups, no statistically significant differences were found. However, a significantly higher inflammatory reaction was observed almost three times more frequently (p = 0.008) in patients where the vaporization biological effect was not fixed. Therefore, despite the results of the experimental study suggesting that excessive damage to the ciliary processes due to the realization of the vaporization effect does not lead to a significant increase in the intensity of the inflammatory response, the clinical observations suggest avoiding such damages whenever possible. Keywords: postoperative iridocyclitis, endoscopic laser cyclodestruction, optical coherence tomography.

Cyclophotocoagulation - current applications and practical aspects

Despite the advent of a large variety of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) techniques cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) remains a popular treatment option to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucoma patients. Guidelines for glaucoma treatment point to the rather unphysiological mode of action and, thus, recommend CPC mainly for refractory glaucoma and/or eyes with limited visual potential. The primary target of CPC is the pigmented secretory ciliary body epithelium resulting in a decreased production of aqueous humor. In addition, an increase of aqueous outflow may contribute to the IOP lowering. CPC is generally considered a low risk intervention. However, macular edema, prolonged intraocular inflammation, vision loss, hypotony, pain or phthisis occur at considerable rates. Over the past decades new promising modes of cyclophotocoagulation have evolved aiming at reducing the risk of adverse effects and improving the efficiency. This article provides an overview of the different currently available cyclophotocoagulation modes: Besides the classic transscleral continuous-wave cyclophotocoagulation it covers endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation, micropulse transscleral laser treatment and transscleral controlled cyclophotocoagulation. Various practical aspects of the treatment in light of the current literature are being discussed.

Outcomes of vitrectomy, complete pan-retinal photocoagulation, and endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation surgery after anti-VEGF treatment in neovascular glaucoma

PurposeTo establish a comprehensive treatment strategy and evaluate the efficacy of combination of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injection, pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), endoscopic pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP), and endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) surgery for neovascular glaucoma (NVG) patients. MethodsThis retrospective study included 30 patients (30 eyes) who were suffering from NVG and treated with PPV & PRP & ECP (ECP group, 16 eyes), or Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation (Ahmed group, 14 eyes). The intraocular pressure (IOP), number of postoperative anti-glaucoma medications, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), successful rate of surgery, and postoperative complications were recorded and statistically analyzed at the time points of preoperative, 1-day, 1-month, 3-months, 6-months, and 12-months after operation. ResultsAn obvious reduction in IOP and number of postoperative anti-glaucoma medications were observed in both the ECP group and Ahmed group after operation (P ​< ​0.05), and the ECP group showed a significantly lower IOP compared to the Ahmed group at the 6-months (P ​= ​0.014) and 12-months (P ​= ​0.047) postoperative time points, while there was no significant difference of medication number between the two groups except for 1-day after surgery. The BCVA showed no marked difference between the two groups preoperatively and postoperatively (P ​> ​0.05), while it was significantly improved in ECP group at 3-months (P ​= ​0.001), 6-months (P ​= ​0.004), and 12-months (P ​= ​0.010) time points comparing with preoperative BCVA. The surgical success rates in ECP group were also slightly higher than Ahmed group. And the complications after operation showed no marked differences. ConclusionsThe comprehensive treatment of PPV, endoscopic PRP, and ECP surgery for NVG patients after anti-VEGF injection can control IOP effectively and be friendly to patients’ BCVA without obvious serious complications throughout a 12-months follow-up period.

One-year outcomes of combined phacoemulsification and viscogoniosynechialysis with and without endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation in primary angle-closure glaucoma.

To compare the outcomes of combined phacoemulsification and viscogoniosynechialysis (VGSL) with and without endoscopic cyclophtocoagulation (ECP) in primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). In this prospective interventional case series 52 eyes of 50 patients were enrolled. Twenty-seven eyes underwent combined phacoemulsification and VGSL (PV group) and 25 eyes underwent the same procedure plus circumferential ECP (PVE group). All eyes were followed 1day, 1week, 3months, 6months, and 1year after the procedure. Intraocular pressure and antiglaucoma medications were compared between and within groups using generalized estimating equations. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was carried out to compare intensity to failure between groups. The mean ± SD age was 63.23 ± 6.87years and 50% of the cases were male in the entire group. Intraocular pressure (IOP) and antiglaucoma medications were significantly reduced at all time points in comparison with the baseline in both groups (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between groups in either IOP or medications at specific time points (p > 0.05). One eye in each group developed a fibrinous reaction in the postoperative period. There was no statistically significant difference between groups regarding the intensity to failure (P = 0.169). There were no significant differences in IOP and medication reduction between groups. Also, the complications were comparable between groups.

Transscleral vs endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation: safety and efficacy when combined with phacoemulsification

PurposeTo compare the effectiveness and safety of phacoemulsification combined with endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (phaco/ECP), phacoemulsification combined with MicroPulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (phaco/MP-TSCPC), and phacoemulsification alone (phaco) in the treatment of coexisting cataract and glaucoma.MethodsRetrospective cohort study of consecutive cases at Massachusetts Eye & Ear. The main outcome measures were the cumulative probabilities of failure between the phaco/ECP group, phaco/MP-TSCPC group, and the phaco alone group with failure defined as reaching NLP vision at any point postoperatively, undergoing additional glaucoma surgery, or the inability to maintain ≥ 20% IOP reduction from baseline with IOP between 5–18 mmHg while maintaining ≤ baseline medications. Additional outcome measures included changes in average IOP, number of glaucoma medications, and complication rates.ResultsSixty-four eyes from 64 patients (25 phaco/ECP, 20 phaco/MPTSCPC, 19 phaco alone) were included in this study. The groups did not differ in age (mean 71.04 ± 6.7 years) or length of follow-up time. Baseline IOPs were significantly different between groups (15.78 ± 4.7 mmHg phaco/ECP, 18.37 ± 4.6 mmHg phaco/MP-TSCPC, 14.30 ± 4.2 mmHg phaco alone, p = 0.02). Primary open-angle glaucoma was the most common type of glaucoma in the phaco alone (42%) and phaco/ECP (48%) groups while mixed-mechanism glaucoma was the most common type in the phaco/MP-TSCPC group (40%). Surgical failure was less likely in eyes in the phaco/MP-TSCPC (3.40 times, p = 0.005) and phaco/ECP (1.40 times, p = 0.044) groups compared to phaco alone based on the Kaplan–Meier survival criteria. These differences maintained statistical significance when differences in preoperative IOP were taken into account using the Cox PH model (p = 0.011 and p = 0.004, respectively). Additionally, surgical failure was 1.98 times less likely following phaco/MP-TSCPC compared to phaco/ECP (p = 0.038). This difference only approached significance once differences in preoperative IOP were accounted for (p = 0.052). There was no significant difference in IOP reduction at 1 year between groups. Mean IOP reductions at 1 year were 3.07 ± 5.3 mmHg from a baseline of 15.78 ± 4.7 in the phaco/ECP group, 6.0 ± 4.3 mmHg from a baseline of 18.37 ± 4.6 in the phaco/MP-TSCPC group and 1.0 ± 1.6 from a baseline of 14.30 ± 4.2 mmHg in the phaco alone group. There were no differences in complication rates among the three groups.ConclusionsBoth Phaco/MP-TSCPC and phaco/ECP appear to provide superior efficacy for IOP control when compared to phaco alone. All three procedures had similar safety profiles.

Comparing the Effectiveness of Phacoemulsification + Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation Laser versus Phacoemulsification Alone for the Treatment of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma in Patients with Cataract (CONCEPT): Study Methodology

To describe the methodology of the Comparing the Effectiveness of Phacoemulsification+ Endoscopic Photocoagulation Laser and Phacoemulsification Alone for the Treatment of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma in Patients with Cataract (CONCEPT) study, a randomized controlled trial. Double-masked, randomized controlled trial. Participants will be recruited from 5 United Kingdom-based centers. One hundred and sixty eyes with a diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma and visually significant cataract will be included. Eighty eyes will be randomized to undergo cataract surgery alone and eighty to undergo cataract surgery with endoscopic cytophotocoagulation (ECP). The baseline diurnal washout intraocular pressure (IOP) will be measured. The participants will be randomized to undergo cataract surgery alone or cataract surgery with ECP upon completion of uncomplicated cataract surgery. At the 1- and 2-year post surgery follow-up visits, the measurements of washout diurnal IOP will be repeated. Diurnal washout IOP, use of glaucoma medications, and adverse events. We described the methodology of the first randomized controlled trial comparing cataract surgery alone with cataract surgery combined with ECP in the context of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and symptomatic cataract. Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Comparison of Outcomes of Phacoemulsification Combined with Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation, iStent, or Both in the Management of Open-Angle Glaucoma.

To compare outcomes of phacoemulsification combined with endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (phaco/ECP), first generation iStent implantation (phaco/iStent), or both (phaco/iStent/ECP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma. A retrospective chart review was performed on patients at the University of Colorado Department of Ophthalmology. Outcomes included intraocular pressure (IOP), medication use, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and surgical complications were analyzed. Success was defined as IOP reduction of≥20% and/or reduction by at least one glaucoma medication. A total of 394 eyes were included in the study. There were 170 eyes (43.1%) in the phaco/ECP group, 175 eyes (44.4%) in the phaco/iStent group, and 49 eyes (12.4%) in the phaco/iStent/ECP group. The mean pre-operative IOP was 15.9mmHg for phaco/ECP, 15.8mmHg for phaco/iStent, and 15.2mmHg for phaco/iStent/ECP. At 24months, the mean IOP was 13.7mmHg (p<0.0001), 14.2mmHg (p=0.0001), and 13.0mmHg (p=0.0007), respectively. The mean pre-operative number of glaucoma medications was 2.0 for phaco/ECP, 1.4 for phaco/iStent, and 2.2 for phaco/iStent/ECP and at 24months post-surgery decreased to, 1.8 (p=0.011), 0.9 (p<0.0001), and 1.7 (p=0.01), respectively. The success rate at 24months was 54.4% for phaco/ECP, 75.3% for phaco/iStent, and 55.6% for phaco/iStent/ECP. Phacoemulsification when combined with ECP, iStent, or both, lowered IOP and glaucoma medication reliance at 24months. The success rate for phaco/iStent was significantly higher than phaco/ECP. When iStent was added to phaco/ECP, the success rate was higher at earlier postoperative visits compared to the phaco/ECP alone.

Endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation for glaucoma compared to alternative procedures -A Systematic review.

Despite many recent developments, preference in the choice of surgical treatment of uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP) remains a challenge. This study compares the clinical efficacy and safety of endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) to alternative surgical procedures, for all types of glaucoma. The methodology adheres to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines for systematic review reporting. Studies reporting ECP and alternative surgeries in treating refractory glaucoma, neovascular glaucoma, aphakic glaucoma, filtering surgical failure-induced glaucoma, congenital or juvenile glaucoma, and secondary glaucoma such as uveitis glaucoma, traumatic glaucoma, secondary glaucoma postcorneal transplantation, etc. were included. The efficacy was evaluated from the number of IOP-lowering drugs, and mean change in pre- and post-IOP were the outcomes assessed in ECP and non-ECP groups in this review. Evaluations of the postoperative complications revealed the safety assessment of the procedure. In total, 11 relevant studies were selected in this study with a total of 5418 eyes, including 763 eyes in the ECP group and 4655 in the non-ECP group. This review observed that both ECP and non-ECP procedures had been successful in reducing postoperative IOP. It can be deduced from this review, that all types of glaucoma can be treated efficiently with significantly higher success rates with ECP and ECP demonstrates lowest postoperative complications when compared to non ECP procedures. This review provides updated scientific evidence which caters to support clinical decisions for surgical treatment of glaucoma.

Retrospective study of postoperative intraocular pressure and complications in phacoemulsification combined with endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation and phacoemulsification alone in dogs.

Long-term comparative data of phacoemulsification combined with endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (phaco-ECP) versus phacoemulsification (phaco) alone in dogs are rare. To investigate the effects of ECP on postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) and complications after phaco in dogs with normal IOP. Medical records of IOP, conjunctival hyperemia, corneal edema, aqueous flare, posterior synechia, intraocular fibrin, and posterior capsule opacification (PCO) formation in 15 canine eyes that underwent phaco-ECP and 36 eyes that underwent phaco alone were evaluated retrospectively. ECP was applied when either the iridocorneal angle or the ciliary cleft was narrow or closed. The IOP of the phaco-ECP group persisted within the normal range postoperatively. The phaco-ECP group had a shorter period of dorzolamide use than did the phaco group. PCO was formed earlier in the phaco-ECP group than in the phaco group. The phaco-ECP group showed more severe corneal edema than the phaco group at every follow-up visit. Posterior synechia was more severe in the phaco-ECP group than in the phaco group from two weeks until the last follow-up. Although ECP might cause more postoperative complications such as corneal edema and posterior synechia, it could effectively reduce the incidence of IOP increase after phaco in dogs with a high risk of postoperative glaucoma.