‘Microincisional trabeculectomy for glaucoma”

PURPOSE: To evaluate the short-term clinical outcomes of microincisional trabeculectomy (MIT), a new technique of ab-interno trabeculectomy. METHODS: Consecutive patients with open-angle glaucoma identified from the hospital database that underwent MIT with or without cataract surgery between September 2021 to June 2022 at a tertiary eye centre in East India, were screened. Those with a follow-up of < 6 months or with incomplete data were excluded. MIT was done ab-interno using microscissors and microforceps in 2–4 clock hours of the nasal angle via a temporal incision. The intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction at 6 months, and reduction in the number of medications after surgery were analysed. Surgical success (IOP>6 and <22 mm Hg), complications, angle features on anterior segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT), and the need for additional surgeries were analysed. RESULTS: We included thirty-two eyes of 32 patients with open-angle glaucoma (including n = 9 eyes that underwent concurrent cataract surgery) with a preoperative mean IOP of 22 ±11.1 mm Hg and visual field index of 47±37.9%. All eyes achieved >30% IOP reduction, with a final IOP of 14±6.9 mm Hg at 6 months. Surgical success in 31 of 32 eyes with complete success seen in 28 eyes with none of the eyes requiring >1 medication for IOP control. Hyphema was seen in 4 eyes, while transient IOP spikes at 1 day-1 month were seen in 5 eyes, none of which required any additional interventions. One eye with persistent raised IOP at 1 month required incisional trabeculectomy for uncontrolled IOP with 2 medications. CONCLUSION: MIT, a new technique of ab-interno trabeculectomy, is effective in terms of IOP control and reduction in the number of medications while having fewer complications. Long-term studies comparing the efficacy of MIT with incisional trabeculectomy, or other procedures are warranted in the future.