Application of Originally Designed Polymer Micro-Shunt in Open-Angle Glaucoma Surgery

The aim of the investigation was to assess the efficiency of the original polymer micro-shunt application in open-angle glaucoma surgery.

Materials and Methods. 31 open-angle glaucoma patients (31 eyes) with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) were followed up in our clinic. Of them 16 patients (16 eyes) suffered from glaucoma stage III, 14 (14 eyes) stage IV, 1 patient from stage II. Visual acuity varied from 0.2 (with or without correction) to abnormal light projection. Initial IOP was 27–38 mm Hg. All patients underwent partial deep sclerectomy with implantation of the patented polymer micro-shunt. The control group included 29 patients who underwent standard sinus trabeculectomy. Visual acuity varied from 0.5 to normal light projection, IOP was from 28–40 mm Hg.

Results. In early postoperative period the patients of both groups showed a marked hypotensive effect. However, IOP below 20 mm Hg was sustained in the main group throughout the whole follow-up period, while 35.4% of patients in the control group required hypotensive therapy already 9 months after the surgery. Evaluation of visual function dynamics data revealed better stabilization process in the main group. According to the results of computed threshold perimetry, negative dynamics was observed in 13.3% of cases in the main group and 28.3% in the control group. The number of postoperative complications was lower in the main group, caused, as a rule, by initial severity of the disease. The total number of complications in the control group was 5 (16.1%), and 11 (37.9%) in the main group.

Conclusion. Application of the original micro-shunt in antiglaucomatous surgery provides long-term steady hypotensive effect and stabilizes visual functions, making this method a promising one for surgical treatment of open-angle glaucoma patients.

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