Impact of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery on the ocular surface and quality of life in patients with glaucoma

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive glaucoma procedures are emerging as clinically effective and safe glaucoma management approaches; however, evidence regarding quality-of-life outcomes is limited. OBJECTIVES: To explore the impact of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) combined with phacoemulsification on patient-reported outcomes and clinical parameters related to ocular surface disease in people with glaucoma. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. METHODS: Fifty-seven consecutive patients were examined prior to undergoing iStent combined with phacoemulsification with or without adjunctive endocyclophotocoagulation and at 4-month follow-up. RESULTS: At follow-up, on average patients returned statistically significantly improved scores on glaucoma-specific (GQL-15, p < 0.001; GSS, p < 0.001), general health (EQ-5D, p = 0.02) and ocular surface PROMs (OSDI, p = 0.001). Patients were using fewer eye drops on average after MIGS compared with before surgery (1.1 ± 0.9 versus 1.8 ± 0.8; p < 0.001). Undergoing MIGS was associated with improved tear film break-up time (p < 0.001) and reduced corneal fluorescein staining (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This retrospective audit shows quality of life and clinical parameters related to the ocular surface are improved following MIGS combined with phacoemulsification in patients previously treated with anti-glaucoma therapy.