Current Trends in Glaucoma Surgery: Traditional versus Microinvasive Procedures
1Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK
2University of Miami Miller, Miami, USA
3University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
4Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
Current Trends in Glaucoma Surgery: Traditional versus Microinvasive Procedures
Description
Glaucoma is the third leading cause of blindness and a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. It has been estimated that by 2020 there will be approximately 80 million people with glaucoma, an increase of about 20 million since 2010.
Glaucoma is rarely symptomatic until advanced irreversible optic nerve damage has already occurred. The main recognised, and the only modifiable, risk factor for developing glaucoma is elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), or ocular hypertension.
The first line of treatment consists of either IOP-lowering medications or laser. However, many patients suffer from refractory high IOP or glaucoma progression despite maximum tolerated medical treatment. In these cases, surgery is the only option left to achieve satisfactory IOP control.
Traditionally, filtration surgery such as trabeculectomy and aqueous shunt implants are considered the gold standard for the surgical treatment of glaucoma. Although their long-term efficacy is well studied, they are also associated with postoperative complications, some of which might be sight threatening.
More recently, growing evidence supports the use of microinvasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) to achieve the target IOP. These have been demonstrated to result in various degrees of IOP-lowering effect (depending on the specific type of procedure). MIGSs are becoming increasingly popular among glaucoma surgeons as a primary surgical procedure in patients requiring additional IOP control.
The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a broad overview about the current trends in the surgical approach to glaucoma, which procedures are to be preferred and when, and their safety and efficacy outcomes. Submissions are particularly encouraged that show novel techniques and/or previously unreported findings, as well as long-term results of already known procedures and devices. Review articles will also be considered to describe the current state of the art.
Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:
- Filtration surgery: long-term safety and efficacy outcomes
- Ab interno and ab externo glaucoma microinvasive glaucoma surgery
- Bleb-forming and non-bleb-forming microinvasive glaucoma surgery
- Comparison of filtration versus microinvasive glaucoma surgery
- Comparison between different microinvasive devices or techniques
- Standalone and phaco-combined microinvasive glaucoma surgery
- Role of cataract surgery in glaucomatous patients