FAQs / Is It True That Both Trab W/ EX-Press and Trab Alone Have More Potential to Achieve a Lower Pressure than a Canaloplasty?

ANSWER:

Dear ******,

In general that is true if Mitomycin-C (MMC) is used. However, that extra IOP lowering comes at a cost and I’m not talking about dollars. The price is paid in risk: risk of loss of vision, hypotony with associated maculopathy, lifetime (of the bleb) risk of infection, increased ocular surface disease (dry eye irritation), etc. There is at least one study, however, that showed no difference between the average IOP reduction from Trab+MMC and Canaloplasty. This study was performed by one of the most skilled eye surgeons I know, Ike Ahmed (in Canada):

• Nonpenetrating Schlemm Canaloplasty Versus Trabeculectomy: Head-toHead Comparison. Tam D, Calafati J, Ahmed I. Poster, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS) Annual Meeting, April 2010

In addition, it’s simply not true that you cannot achieve an IOP below 10mmHg off drops after Canaloplasty. I have a number of patients who are now years out from Canaloplasty who have IOPs in the

Warm regards,
David Richardson, MD
Patient-Focused Ophthalmologist

San Marino Eye
2020 Huntington Drive
San Marino, CA 91108
626.289.7856

Patient-Focused Websites:
New-Glaucoma-Treatments.com
About-Eyes.com

Date: Mon, Feb 9, 2015 at 6:00 AM

Posted in: Canaloplasty, Canaloplasty and Other Surgeries, Trabeculectomy