“Anti-glaucoma implant A3”: surgical technique and the long term follow-up results

Abstract

The goal of our work was to study the safety profile and effectiveness of a domestically manufactured shunting device for the treatment of advanced stage primary open-angle glaucoma. This article describes the surgical technique of “Anti-Glaucoma Implant A3” implantation, as well as long term follow-up results obtained from 19 patients (20 eyes). Materials and methods. The devices were implanted in 19 patients (20 eyes) with advanced stage primary open-angle glaucoma. The diagnosis was made based on collected medical history, results of objective and instrumental test findings. All patients included in the study underwent a standard ophthalmologic examination, including: automatic refractometry, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) assessment, automated static perimetry, biomicroscopy of the anterior segment, indirect ophthalmoscopy with an aspheric lens, gonioscopy. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to assess retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness. Conclusion. Intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering surgical procedures using an anti-glaucoma shunting device are non-inferior by their effectiveness to trabeculectomy, and have lower complication rate.