Dr. Nir Shoham-Hazon, a prominent glaucoma and advanced anterior segment surgeon and the director of the Miramichi EyeNB Centre of Excellence in Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada, recently presented two groundbreaking papers at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) conference in Boston.
In his first presentation, Dr. Shoham-Hazon discussed the medication burden of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma who were on three or more medications. Over a 12-month period, patients exhibited a notable reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP), with baseline IOPs around 20 mmHg decreasing to the mid-teens at the follow-up. The study also highlighted a decrease in medication burden, with most patients initially on 3.5 medication classes reducing to 2.5 medications by the end of the follow-up period. Notably, the safety and efficacy of the iTrack microcatheter from Nova Eye were demonstrated in this patient group, with only a small percentage requiring further filtration surgery.
In his second presentation, Dr. Shoham-Hazon focused on the safety and efficacy of the iTrack microcatheter in patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma. This study, involving 47 eyes, evaluated a mixed procedure for primary angle-closure glaucoma, traditionally treated with laser peripheral iridotomy followed by filtration surgery if IOPs were not controlled. The findings showcased the efficacy of canaloplasty Ab-interno with the iTrack microcatheter, either as a standalone procedure or combined with cataract surgery. The results revealed a significant reduction in IOP, particularly in the uncontrolled group, along with a decrease in medication burden. Overall, the procedure was deemed safe and effective for patients requiring both cataract and glaucoma treatment.
Dr. Shoham-Hazon’s presentations underscore the advancements in minimally invasive glaucoma procedures and their potential to provide safe and efficacious treatment options for patients with various forms of glaucoma.
