No abstract

The mutual relationship among medical therapy, ocular surface (OS) and filtration surgery (FS) represents one of the most crucial issues in glaucoma management. As the long-term use of intraocular pressure-lowering medications significantly affect the OS health, patients with an uncontrolled disease frequently undergo glaucoma surgery in less-than-ideal conditions. As we known, OS changes strongly affect the post-operative bleb filtration capability. Therefore, improving the OS conditions before proceeding with FS is needed. Currently, given the rapid diffusion of new surgical procedures, this need is even more perceived. Nevertheless, despite surgeons retain the OS preparation of primary importance, and recognize the OS disease (OSD) as the only modifiable risk factor for filtration failure, there is no agreement on which strategies should be preferred to prepare patients. This is largely due to the lack of validated guidelines, which forces clinicians to adopt personal approaches based on evidence derived from low-quality studies. In this review, we provided an overview of risk factors involved in the FS failure, with particular attention to those depending on OS changes, and how OSD negatively affects the aqueous humor resorption after surgery. Moreover, we reported the most exploited measures to mitigate the OSD before surgery, the possible reasons underlying the absence of shared approaches, and the upcoming area of intervention to preserve the OS health during glaucoma management. Finally, based on the current evidence, we proposed a pre-operative outline reporting the main risk factors that should be considered before surgery, and the therapeutical options available to improve the OS.

Précis: XEN45 implant was an effective and safe procedure in primary open angle glaucoma (OAG) eyes with high myopia. Although the hypotony incidence rate was relatively high, it resolved with medical therapy and was of short duration. Purpose:The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the XEN45 stent in eyes with OAG and high myopia.Design: Retrospective and multicenter study.Methods: Consecutive OAG patients who underwent a XEN45, either alone or in combination with cataract surgery, and had a refractive error higher than −6 D and an axial length ≥ 26 mm. The primary endpoint was the mean intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering at the last follow-up visit.Results: Thirty-one eyes were included (96.8% with a primary OAG diagnosis). The mean refraction was −13.2 ± 5.6 (range: −6.75 to −23.0) D. In the overall study sample, preoperative mean IOP (95% CI) was significantly lowered from 23.5 (20.5-26.4) mm Hg to 13.0 (12.2-13.8) mm Hg at the last follow-up visit, P < 0.0001. At the last follow-up visit, 16 (57.1%) eyes achieved an IOP ≤ 14 mm Hg, 11 (68.9%) of them without treatment. The number of ocular hypotensive medications was significantly reduced from 3.0 ± 1.1 drugs at preoperatively to 0.6 ± 1.0 drugs at the last follow-up visit, P < 0.0001. Median (95% CI) follow-up was 24.0 (12.0-24.0) months. Linear regression analysis showed a significant correlation between the preoperative refraction and the IOP lowering (r = 0.43, P = 0.0155). Needling procedure was performed in 11 eyes (39.3%) and hypotony (defined as an IOP <6 mm Hg) was observed in 8 eyes (28.6%) during the first postoperative day and remained for a week. Conclusion:Although the Xen implant effectively lowered IOP in highly myopic eyes with glaucoma, the incidence of hypotony was high, and in most cases, resolved within the first month with medical management and monitoring.

Background: The present study aimed to investigate the rationale and efficacy of using a citicoline, coenzyme Q10 (CAVAQ10) and vitamin B3 fixed combination in combating inflammation and oxidation in neuronal cells exposed to oxidative stress. Methods: HypoE22 cells and isolated hypothalamic specimens were selected as in vitro models to conduct the experiments. The efficacy of citicoline, CAVAQ10, and vitamin B3, with their fixed combination, were assayed after the exposure of hypothalamic cells to hydrogen peroxide (concentration range 1 nM–10 µM), in order to evaluate the biocompatibility of treatments. The activity of neuroprotective and pro-inflammatory factors, namely, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), involved in the neuronal cell damage in neurodegenerative diseases, were assayed in isolated hypothalamus. Results: Neither citicoline, CAVAQ10, nor vitamin B3 significantly altered hypothalamic cell viability, thus suggesting the biocompatibility of single ingredients and fixed combination in the concentration range considered for the study. In the same condition, citicoline and CAVAQ10 were also effective in reducing the gene expression of monoaminoxidase-B, involved in dopamine degradation. However, only citicoline demonstrated an ability to reduce dopamine levels. Conversely, all compounds were effective in reducing the gene expression of IL-6, and TNFα, and in inducing the gene expression of BDNF, with the co-administration of citicoline/CAVAQ10/vitamin B3 being generally more effective than single ingredients. Conclusions: The present findings support the beneficial and synergistic effects of citicoline, CAVAQ10, and vitamin B3 in fixed combination in reducing inflammation and oxidation, and in stimulating neurotrophin production in neuronal cells.

Purpose: We compared the efficacy and safety of trabeculectomy and phacotrabeculectomy in patients with glaucoma. Materials and methods: We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients who underwent trabeculectomy or phacotrabeculectomy. Patients in the trabeculectomy group were pseudophakic. We established three different intraocular pressure (IOP) thresholds (A: <21 mmHg, B: <18 mmHg, and C: <15 mmHg) to measure complete (without medication) and qualified (with medication) success. Success criteria were analyzed through Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Results: Sixty-seven eyes were included (40 trabeculectomy, 27 phacotrabeculectomy). The mean follow-up period was 25.70 ± 14.439 months. The baseline characteristics were similar between the groups. The complete and qualified success rates according to criterion C were significantly higher in the trabeculectomy group ( p = 0.033, p = 0.021, respectively); however, there was a trend toward a higher success rate for all criteria in favor of trabeculectomy. Bleb needling was more frequent in the phacotrabeculectomy group. The mean IOP significantly decreased from 26.46 ± 7.07 to 12.27 ± 4.06 at 12 months ( p < 0.001). The final mean IOP was significantly lower in the trabeculectomy than in the phacotrabeculectomy group (10.95 ± 3.08 vs 13.00 ± 4.56, p = 0.0003). Conclusion: In pseudophakic eyes, trabeculectomy alone achieves a higher success rate, lower mean IOP, and less frequent bleb needlings. More frequent follow-up and prolonged postoperative use of high-dose topical steroids should be considered in patients undergoing phacotrabeculectomy.