Abstract
PURPOSE: To report the initial 2 years' learning curve on gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy performed using the thermally blunted suture technique and review the factors that could potentially affect the outcome. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated 100 eyes from 89 participants with glaucoma resistant to maximum clinical treatment, which was defined as having an intraocular pressure >21 mmHg in addition to three or four different hypotensive drugs. Intraocular pressure values at baseline, 1 week, and at 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months of follow-up and details regarding the need of antiglaucoma medication and further glaucoma surgery were recorded. Eyes that required further surgical intervention for intraocular pressure control were considered as failure. RESULTS: A total of 51 eyes were subjected to isolated gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy, and 49 eyes were subjected to gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy + cataract extraction at the same surgical time. A statistically significant difference was observed between overall mean follow-up intraocular pressure and mean preoperative intraocular pressure (p<0.001) in all follow-up visits. When the extent of treatment was evaluated, patients with an extension of 360° did not exhibit statistically significantly lower mean intraocular pressure than those with other extensions. Hyphema was the only complication presented in 50 eyes (50%), but all had spontaneous resolution within 4 weeks. A total of 26 eyes (26%) required additional conventional trabeculectomy due to uncontrolled intraocular pressure, especially those who previously underwent vitreoretinal surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy, besides being an apparently safe procedure, results in satisfactory success rates even during the surgeon's initial learning curve. The technique was effective in decreasing intraocular pressure and medication burden.