The occurrence of both glaucoma and clinically relevant cataract in the same individual is a frequent condition, especially in the elderly population. Besides age, this might be related to the possible role of antiglaucoma medications in the progression of lens opacity.^1–3 When both procedures are required, these can be performed separately or in combination.

Glaucoma filtering surgery is indicated when glaucomatous damage progresses despite the lower level of intraocular pressure (IOP) obtained with pharmacological and/or laser treatment. In the past few years, filtering surgery has improved, with an increased likelihood of successfully lowering the IOP while minimising complications. While full thickness filtration procedures considerably reduced the IOP, they were associated with early postoperative hypotony and related side effects and became progressively less popular.

Trabeculectomy has been the surgical treatment of choice for primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) since the 1970s⁴; its success rates and complication however are less than ideal.^5,6 Early hypotony and bleb infections are still of concern.^{7,8,9,10,11,12,13}

Glaucoma drainage implants, designed to shunt the aqueous posteriorly, represent an alternative method for lowering IOP in glaucomatous patients,^14–17 commonly used in refractory glaucoma or after the failure of other surgical approaches.

The Ex-PRESS is a miniature stainless steel glaucoma device, developed as an alternative to trabeculectomy and to the other types of glaucoma filtering surgery for patients with POAG. This procedure would be theoretically more reproducible and simple to perform as well as less traumatic to the ocular tissue than traditional filtering surgery. The implant is inserted at the limbus under a conjunctival flap and diverts the aqueous humour from the anterior chamber to the subconjunctival space, obtaining the formation of a conjunctival filtration bleb, in a similar way to trabeculectomy. This procedure can be performed on its own or in combination with phacoemulsification.

This study is about the long term efficacy and safety results of the Ex-PRESS device (Optonol Ltd) implanted for the surgical treatment of POAG and cataract when combined with phacoemulsification.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This non-randomised, multicentre, prospective trial was conduced at three different centres. All operations were performed by one experienced ophthalmic surgeon in each centre. Surgeons were instructed in the implantation procedure for the device and practised the procedure on animal eyes before operating on humans. Approval from the institutional review boards was obtained. After receiving a comprehensive explanation of the experimental nature of this procedure, informed consent was obtained from each patient.

Patients were recruited prospectively and non-consecutively. Their mean age was 75.1 (SD 7.1) years. Eligibility criteria included the presence of POAG, mobile unscarred conjunctiva for at least two clock hours superiorly, an indication for glaucoma filtering surgery based on uncontrolled IOP despite medications, and the presence of a clinically significant decrease of visual acuity as a result of cataract. Eyes with angle closure glaucoma, neovascular glaucoma, congenital or juvenile glaucoma, or monocular patients were excluded. All patients had visual field examinations within 6 months before the recruitment, and were affected by POAG.

Upon enrolment each patient underwent a complete ophthalmic examination; postoperative evaluations were performed on the first and seventh days and on the first, second, third, sixth, ninth, 12th, 18th, 24th, 30th, 36th, 42nd, and 48th postoperative months, or more often when required. The examination consisted of measurement of best corrected visual acuity, slit lamp biomicroscopy of the anterior and posterior segments, IOP measurement by applanation tonometry, and gonioscopy. History and all medication details were recorded. Standard case report forms (CRF) were used.

The Ex-PRESS R50 drainage device is an non-valved flow restricting implant, made of implantable stainless steel (316L), which is approved for medical and ophthalmic applications. The R50 device is built with a 3 mm long tube with a 400 μm (27 gauge) external diameter, a 50 μm inner diameter, and a bevelled, sharpened, rounded tip (fig 1). The disc-like flange at the device’s proximal end prevents it being implanted too deeply, while the spur-like projection prevents its extrusion. The external flange and inner spur are angled to conform to the anatomy of the sclera, and the distance between them corresponds to the scleral thickness at the limbus, where the device is implanted. Three holes around the proximal end of the device’s shaft ensure filtration if the main orifice becomes blocked by the iris or other tissues.

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Figure 1

 Design of the Ex-PRESS miniature glaucoma implant.

Surgical technique

The Ex-PRESS R50 device was implanted under local or topical anaesthesia, using standard ophthalmic microsurgical instruments. The procedure consisted of a 2–4 mm circumferential conjunctiva opening, 10–15 mm posterior to the limbus. The implant, mounted on its introducer, was slid under the conjunctiva and Tenon’s capsule and implanted radial to the limbus and parallel to the iris through a pre-incision performed with a 27 gauge needle. The introducer was then withdrawn. The conjunctiva was closed with a suture at the surgeon’s discretion. Manipulation of the conjunctiva during the introduction was limited to one or two clock hours. At the end of this procedure, a temporal clear cornea phacoemulsification cataract extraction with “in the bag” intraocular lens (IOL) insertion was performed. (A diagrammatic representation of the implant in place is shown in fig 2.)

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Figure 2

 Schematic drawing of the Ex-PRESS implant in situ.

CRF were used to collect data on the procedure, its duration, and any complications during surgery. Using a semiquantitative scale of 1–5 (where 1 = very easy or very well positioned and 5 = very difficult or very poorly positioned), the surgeon graded the ease of the insertion and positioning of the implant at the limbus. At each follow up, the surgeon carried out a complete ophthalmic examination, recording all data on the CRF, including anterior chamber depth, device position, presence or absence of the bleb, and visual acuity. The IOP and the use of antiglaucoma medications or other IOP reduction procedures during the follow up were primary outcome measures. Secondary outcome measures included the visual acuity and the occurrence of perioperative or postoperative complications.

The procedure was labelled an overall success when IOP was <21 mm Hg with or without antiglaucoma medications; a complete success was defined as an IOP <21 mm Hg without medications. Postoperative bleb management and scarring modulation with needling or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) injections were not a criterion for failure.

Results were analysed on an “intent to treat” basis. Data were presented as mean (SD), unless otherwise specified. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare changes from baseline IOP and to compare the number of antiglaucoma medications used by the patient. Time to failure, defined as an IOP >21 mm Hg at two consecutive visits, IOP >21 mm Hg at the last visit, or a need for additional surgery, was evaluated using Kaplan-Meyer survival analysis. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant for all analyses. Statistical analyses were carried out using the SPSS statistical package or Microsoft Excel.

RESULTS

The Ex-PRESS R50 device was implanted into 26 eyes of 25 white patients with POAG and cataract. The mean age of the patients was 75.1 (7.1) years; table 1 details other demographic data.

The mean follow up period was 30.2 (14.5) months. Twenty five patients completed 1 year, 18 patients 2 years, nine patients 3 years, and four patients 4 years. Two subjects discontinued the study because of erosion followed by removal and four patients were lost to follow up.

Mean preoperative (baseline) IOP was 21 (SD 4) mm Hg; at 1, 2, and 3 years after surgery IOP was 15.3 (3.1) mm Hg (35% reduction), 16.6 (2.7) mm Hg (29% reduction), and 16 (2.6) mm Hg (22% reduction), respectively (table 2, fig 3). The overall success rate (IOP ⩽21 mm Hg with or without medications) was 94.4% at 2 years (17/18 eyes) and 76.9% at last visit (20/26 eyes). The complete success rate (IOP ⩽21 mm Hg without medications) was 66.7% at 2 years (12/18 eyes) and 65.4% (17/26 eyes) at last visit (table 3).

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Figure 3

 Efficacy, IOP dynamics (p = 0.004 for IOP reduction >20% paired t test).

The reduction of antiglaucoma medication use recorded following implantation of the Ex-PRESS device was significant. Six patients were treated pharmacologically at their last visit: five were treated with one medication and one with two medications (fig 4).

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Figure 4

 Number of medications over time (p = 0.0001 for IOP reduction in medications, paired t test). Six patients (23%) were treated with medications at their last visit; five were treated with one medication; and one with two medications.

Visual acuity improved in 21 eyes; no change in VA was recorded in four eyes (fig 5). In one patient visual acuity decreased at the last visit (one Snellen line decrease).

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Figure 5

 Visual acuity (VA) for patients with a minimum follow up of 2 months (n = 26). VA improvement in 21 eyes; no change in VA, four eyes; VA decrease, one eye (one Snellen line decrease).

Bleb needling in the postoperative period was performed in seven eyes: six of them associated with 5-FU injection. One further patient received an injection of 5-FU without bleb needling (table 4).

Short term complications included three cases of hyphaema (<2 mm), one in the first postoperative day, all spontaneously resolved within 1 week; two cases of device rotation, one noticed at the first at first postoperative month and immediately repositioned and one 2 years after surgery, which caused conjunctival erosion; three cases of erosion: one at the second year of follow up, still now under observation, two at the second and third year respectively, one followed by device removal and one by device replacement; one case of choroidal detachment, probably related to vigorous rubbing of the eye as reported by the patient, spontaneously resolved; one case of iris contact with the implant, at second postoperative month, without sequelae (table 5).

DISCUSSION

The implantation of the Ex-PRESS R50 miniature stainless steel glaucoma drainage device in 26 eyes of 25 patients combined with phacoemulsification cataract extraction produced a cumulative overall success rate of 76.9% using an IOP ⩽21 mm Hg as an end point. Our success rate compares favourably with data reported in the literature for other filtering procedures: 50–100% for trabeculectomy,^18–20 up to 87.5% for non-penetrating surgery,^21,22 and 25–90% for other glaucoma drainage devices.^23–25

Our results confirm those obtained in a small case series using a trabecular meshwork bypass shunt where IOP and glaucoma medications were reduced in patients who were followed for up to 9 months.²⁶

In studies comparing viscocanalostomy with trabeculectomy, the latter procedure has been shown to be more effective in controlling IOP while viscocanalostomy had fewer postoperative complications.^{21,22,27–30} A study comparing trabeculectomy (retrospectively) in one eye and deep sclerectomy with collagen implant (prospectively) in the other eye of 20 patients found comparable success rates with IOP <21 mm Hg obtained in 40% of the deep sclerectomy eye group and 45% of the trabeculectomy eye group³¹; comparable IOP reductions were also reported in a prospective study of 78 eyes.³² However, another study noted lower levels of IOP with trabeculectomy although there were fewer complications with deep sclerectomy.³³ Preliminary results from a study comparing deep sclerectomy with Ex-PRESS implant surgery indicated that the two procedures were comparable at 6 months of follow up.³⁴

In our study, implantation of the Ex-PRESS device produced a low rate of short term complications, such as a shallow or flat chamber and hyphaema, similar to other filtering surgeries; there were no long term complications. Only six patients in our study required antiglaucoma medications at their last visit; comparatively better than commonly reported after trabeculectomy.^6,20,35

Bleb failure due to fibroblast proliferation is one of the main causes of failed filtration. In order to minimise the risk of scarring, the use of antimetabolites preoperatively and postoperatively is common.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, results from our study demonstrate that implantation of the Ex-PRESS device is safe and is not associated with significant complications, both in short and long term. The cases of conjunctival erosion can be prevented by optimal intraoperative positioning of the device, mainly avoiding too anterior implantation. The correct positioning of the implant is the most crucial consideration for preventing complications.

This stainless steel device is safe and effective for reducing IOP and antiglaucoma medications in combination with cataract extraction.

Our results indicate that this procedure can be considered as an alternative to conventional filtering surgery for the control of IOP in patients with open angle glaucoma. However, further studies that directly compare the Ex-PRESS implant with trabeculectomy and other procedures are still required to assess precisely the role and relative advantages and disadvantages of each technique.