Real-world retrospective consecutive study of ab interno XEN 45 gel stent implant with mitomycin C in black and afro-latino patients with glaucoma: 40% required secondary glaucoma surgery at 1 year

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the postoperative course after the ab interno XEN45 Gel Stent implantation in Black and Afro-Latino, patients with glaucoma. METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective study. All patients with glaucoma who underwent ab interno XEN implantation were included in the study. All of the patients were Black and Afro-Latino making up the demographics of the local community. Investigated parameters were intraocular pressure (IOP), the number of medications, visual acuity, IOP-follow-up, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and additionally performed surgeries. RESULTS: Of 20 eyes that had undergone the procedure with 1-year follow-up, eight failed before 12 months requiring additional glaucoma surgery. Of the 12 that were successful at 1 year, 9 (75%) eyes underwent XEN + cataract surgery and 3 (25%) had XEN surgery alone. Of the eyes that completed 12-month follow-up, the mean medicated IOP was 15.3 +/- 6.2 mmHg at baseline, and 12.9 +/- 4.5 mmHg at 12 months, a 16% IOP reduction. Mean medications dropped from 3.58 +/- 0.7 preoperatively to 1.75 +/- 1.5 at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: The ab interno XEN gel implant as a standalone procedure or combined with cataract surgery demonstrated a safe and sustained IOP reduction for only 60% of patients after 12 months. In Black and Afro-Latino patients receiving the ab interno XEN implant, 40% of patients needed additional surgery within 12 months.