Outcomes of primary surgical treatment of medically recalcitrant post-keratoplasty glaucoma with transscleral cyclophotocoagulation

Abstract

Purpose To report the outcomes of slow-coagulation continuous-wave transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (CW-TSCPC) in post-keratoplasty glaucoma refractory to medical therapy. Methods Medical records of 47 patients (mean age of 70.7 ± 15.7 years and follow-up of 13.9 ± 7.1 months) were retrospectively enrolled. All patients had the diagnosis of secondary glaucoma after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP; n = 28) or Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK; n = 19) with no previous history of incisional glaucoma or TSCPC surgeries. Study participants underwent slow-coagulation CW-TSCPC (1250-milliwatt power and 4-second duration). Results A statically significant reduction of IOP from 31.8 ± 8.0 mmHg preoperatively to 16.9 ± 9.0 mmHg postoperatively was noted ( p < 0.001). Similarly, the number of glaucoma medications decreased from 4.0 ± 1.0 to 2.7 ± 1.4 ( p < 0.001). The overall success rates at 12 and 24 months were 68.1% and 66.0%, respectively, with no difference in success rates between post-PKP and post-DSAEK subgroups ( p = 0.836). No significant changes in VA or central corneal thickness (CCT) were observed ( p = 0.345 and 0.311, respectively). One (3.3%) patient had a graft rejection. The majority of the complications noted during this study were mild and transient. Conclusions Our study suggests that slow-coagulation TSCPC may be a safe and efficient surgical glaucoma treatment modality in patients with medically uncontrolled post-keratoplasty glaucoma.