Although there is evidence that canaloplasty can be an effective long-term treatment for glaucoma, studies indicate that just under 15% of eyes that have had canaloplasty either do not respond to canaloplasty or do not achieve adequate intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering.[1]
Additionally, no glaucoma surgery should be expected to last for life. Selective laser trabeculoplasty, trabeculectomy, glaucoma drainage devices, canalolplasty, and every other surgical glaucoma treatment known is prone to a slow rate of failure over time.
Fortunately, there are multiple surgical treatment options that can be performed after canaloplasty. These range from in-office laser treatments to traditional glaucoma surgeries to the promising minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS).
Importantly, canaloplasty does not “close the door” to most available and likely future available glaucoma surgical treatments. Following is a list of the currently available (as well as likely future) glaucoma treatments that can be performed after canaloplasty if needed.
Glaucoma Treatments that Can Be Performed after Canaloplasty If Needed.
Laser Procedures
- YAG Laser Goniopuncture
- Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT)
Traditional Glaucoma Filtering Surgeries
- Glaucoma Drainage Devices
- Trabeculectomy
Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgeries
- Suprachoroidal Stents
- CyPass Micro-Stent®
- iStent Supra®
References:
1) Lewis RA, von Wolff K, Tetz M, et al. Canaloplasty: Three-year results of circumferential viscodilation and tensioning of Schlemm canal using a microcatheter to treat open-angle glaucoma. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2011;37(4):682-90.
Bull H, von Wolff K, Korber N, Tetz M. Three-year canaloplasty outcomes for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma: European study results. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2011;249(10):1537-45.
Brusini P. Canaloplasty in open-angle glaucoma surgery: a four-year follow-up. ScientificWorldJournal. 2014;2014:469609.
