Anna K. Junk

Refractive Outcomes of Combined Cataract and Glaucoma Surgery

Purpose:This study was designed to evaluate the refractive outcomes of combined cataract extraction and glaucoma surgery. Design:Retrospective case series. Methods:A retrospective chart review of patients undergoing simultaneous cataract extraction with trabeculectomy or glaucoma drainage device surgery was performed. The main outcome measure evaluated was whether or not spherical equivalent of −1.00 to +0.50 D was achieved at 3 to 6 months postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included: reduction in intraocular pressure, amount of cylinder induced by combined surgery, and individual patient characteristics that may have affected refractive outcome. Outcomes were compared with an age-matched and sex-matched control group of patients who had uncomplicated cataract surgery during the same time period. Results:Forty-three eyes of 36 patients underwent combined cataract extraction and glaucoma surgery. A refractive outcome of spherical equivalent between −1.00 and +0.50 D was achieved in 32 of 43 eyes (74%) at 3 to 6 months after surgery. Logistic regression analysis found a 1.14 increased risk of the refraction being outside this defined refractive range in older compared with younger patients (by year, 95% CI, 1.04-1.27). Type of lens implant used, type of glaucoma surgery, and preoperative best-corrected visual acuity did not significantly affect refractive outcome. In a subset of 22 eyes with available preoperative keratometry measures, a mean 1.31 D (SD=0.86; range, 0.26 to 3.76) of corneal astigmatism was induced by combined surgery. In comparison, a matched control group who had cataract surgery alone achieved target refractive outcome in 34 of 40 eyes (85%, P=0.001) and had a trend for less induced cylinder (0.99, SD=0.72, P=0.11). Conclusions:Favorable refractive outcomes were achieved in the majority of patients despite the potential alteration of preoperative measurements and introduction of error into lens selection when using a combined approach. There does not seem to be a difference in the refractive outcome with regard to the type of glaucoma surgery performed. Control patients who had cataract surgery alone had a higher percentage of achieving target refractive goal and less induced cylinder.

Laser Peripheral Iridotomy in Primary Angle Closure: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology

PURPOSE To examine the efficacy and complications of laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) in subjects with primary angle closure (PAC). METHODS Literature searches in the PubMed and Cochrane databases were last conducted in August 2017 and yielded 300 unique citations. Of these, 36 met the inclusion criteria and were rated according to the strength of evidence; 6 articles were rated level I, 11 articles were rated level II, and 19 articles were rated level III. RESULTS Reported outcomes were change in angle width, effect on intraocular pressure (IOP) control, disease progression, and complications. Most of the studies (29/36, 81%) included only Asian subjects. Angle width (measured by gonioscopy, ultrasound biomicroscopy, and anterior segment OCT) increased after LPI in all stages of angle closure. Gonioscopically defined persistent angle closure after LPI was reported in 2% to 57% of eyes across the disease spectrum. Baseline factors associated with persistent angle closure included narrower angle and parameters representing nonpupillary block mechanisms of angle closure, such as a thick iris, an anteriorly positioned ciliary body, or a greater lens vault. After LPI, further treatment to control IOP was reported in 0%-8% of PAC suspect (PACS), 42% to 67% of PAC, 21% to 47% of acute PAC (APAC), and 83%-100% of PAC glaucoma (PACG) eyes. Progression to PACG ranged from 0% to 0.3% per year in PACS and 0% to 4% per year in PAC. Complications after LPI included IOP spike (8-17 mmHg increase from baseline in 6%-10%), dysphotopsia (2%-11%), anterior chamber bleeding (30%-41%), and cataract progression (23%-39%). CONCLUSIONS Laser peripheral iridotomy increases angle width in all stages of primary angle closure and has a good safety profile. Most PACS eyes do not receive further intervention, whereas many PAC and APAC eyes, and most PACG eyes, receive further treatment. Progression to PACG is uncommon in PACS and PAC. There are limited data on the comparative efficacy of LPI versus other treatments for the various stages of angle closure; 1 randomized controlled trial each demonstrated superiority of cataract surgery over LPI in APAC and of clear lens extraction over LPI in PACG or PAC with IOP above 30 mmHg.

Surgical Simulation Training Reduces Intraoperative Cataract Surgery Complications among Residents

Introduction This retrospective consecutive case series examined whether training on a surgical simulator reduces intraoperative complication rates among novice ophthalmology residents learning cataract surgery. Methods Beginning July 2014, training on the Eyesi simulator became mandatory for novice postgraduate year 3 ophthalmology residents before live cataract surgery at our institution. Complication rates of the 11 simulator-trained residents (study group) were compared with their immediate 11 simulator-naive predecessors (comparison group). Only straightforward cataract cases (according to standardized preoperative criteria) where postgraduate year 3 residents served as the primary surgeon were included. Complication data were obtained from Morbidity and Mortality records and compared using Fisher exact test. A survey was administered to the residents to gauge the perceived utility of simulation training. Results The simulator-trained group (n = 501 cataract cases) and the simulator-naive comparison group (n = 454 cases) were analyzed. The complication rate in the simulator group was 2.4% compared with 5.1% in the comparison group (P = 0.037, Fisher exact test). Both the mean posterior capsule tear rate and vitreous prolapse rate in the simulator group were 2.2% compared with 4.8% in the comparison group (P = 0.032, Fisher exact test). The survey had a response rate of 100% (11/11), and 91% (10/11) of respondents felt that the training was “extremely worthwhile” and should be mandatory. Conclusions The addition of surgical simulation training was associated with a significantly reduced rate of complications, including posterior capsule tears and vitreous prolapse, among novice postgraduate year 3 residents. There is a perceived utility among residents to incorporate virtual simulation into surgical training.

Spectral-Domain OCT: Helping the Clinician Diagnose Glaucoma: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology

PURPOSE To review the current published literature on the use of spectral domain (SD) OCT to help detect changes associated with the diagnosis of glaucoma. METHODS Searches of the peer-reviewed literature were conducted on June 11, 2014, November 7, 2016, August 8, 2017, and April 19, 2018, in the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases and included only articles published since the last glaucoma imaging Ophthalmic Technology Assessment, which included articles up until February 2006. The abstracts of these 708 articles were examined to exclude reviews and non-English articles. After inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, 74 articles were selected, and the panel methodologist (K.N.-M.) assigned ratings to them according to the level of evidence. Two articles were rated level I, 57 articles were rated level II, and the 15 level III articles were excluded. RESULTS Spectral-domain OCT is capable of detecting damage to the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), macula, and optic nerve in patients with preperimetric and perimetric glaucoma (level I and II evidence). The most commonly studied single parameter was RNFL thickness. Of note, RNFL thickness measurements are not interchangeable between instruments. Various commercially available SD OCT instruments have similar abilities to distinguish patients with known glaucoma from normal subjects. Despite different software protocols, all SD OCT instruments are able to detect the same typical pattern of glaucomatous RNFL loss that affects primarily the inferior, inferior temporal, superior, and superior temporal regions of the optic nerve (level II evidence). Across many SD OCT instruments, macular imaging also can detect a preferential inferior, inferior temporal, and superior temporal thinning in patients with glaucoma compared with controls. Best disc parameters for detecting glaucomatous nerve damage are global rim area, inferior rim area, and vertical cup-to-disc ratio. Studies suggest that newer reference-plane independent optic nerve parameters may have the same or better detection capability when compared with older reference-plane dependent disc parameters (level II evidence). CONCLUSIONS Structural glaucomatous damage can be detected by SD OCT. Optic nerve, RNFL, and macular parameters can help the clinician distinguish the anatomic changes that are associated with patients with glaucoma when compared with normal subjects.