Clinical efficacy of sclerotonyxis for acute angle-closure glaucoma with persistent high intraocular pressure

Y.-Y. Zhang, B.-B. Xu, Z.-X. Hu, L.-G. Zhang

Aier Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Shenbei Aier Eye Hospital, Shenzhen, China. laoguishi@aierhhr.com

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• Ophthalmology

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical effectiveness and safety of sclerotonyxis in acute angle-closure glaucoma (ACG) with persistent high intraocular pressure (IOP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The clinical data of 50 eyes from 50 patients (mean age: 68.9±7.19 years) with acute ACG and persistently high IOP who were admitted to our department between January 2012 and January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients who were administered the maximum dose of systemic and topical anti-glaucoma drugs and still had an IOP of >40 mmHg 24 hours after admission underwent sclerotonyxis. After the IOP control, an individualized phase II treatment plan was designed according to the patient’s ocular condition.

RESULTS: Forty-eight patients showed improvement in their visual acuity 6 months postoperatively compared to their preoperative values. The mean IOPs were 54.84±7.82 mmHg and 21.34±7.81 mmHg 24 hours pre and postoperatively, respectively. The mean anterior chamber depth showed statistically significant differences pre and postoperatively (1.75±0.16 mm and 1.84±0.17 mm, respectively) (p<0.05). After IOP stabilized, four patients underwent YAG laser peripheral iridectomy, 18 underwent simple cataract phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, 21 underwent cataract phacoemulsification combined with IOL implantation and goniosynechialysis under a gonioscope, and 7 patients underwent combined surgery of glaucoma and cataract. The mean IOPs were 15.94±3.3 mmHg and 15.64±2.99 mmHg 1 week and 6 months after stage II surgery, respectively. Moreover, 42 eyes (84%) attained complete success and 8 eyes (16%) attained conditional success 6 months postoperatively. No serious complications, such as corneal endothelial decompensation, malignant glaucoma, vitreous or eruptive choroidal hemorrhage, and retinal detachment, were observed intraoperatively or postoperatively in both procedures.

CONCLUSIONS: Sclerotonyxis can rapidly lower IOP, release the pupillary blockage, reconstruct the anterior chamber, and reduce systemic complications caused by long-term high-dose antiglaucoma drugs. Thus, it normalizes the IOP and provides a safe operating space for stage II surgery, effectively reducing complications in patients in a persistent high IOP state.

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