Gonioscopy-Assisted Transluminal Trabeculotomy for Glaucoma: 1-Year Outcomes and Success Predictors

Precis: Our results suggest gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy (GATT) as an effective and safe option for the surgical management of open-angle glaucoma (OAG). Older age was the only risk factor for failure in our analysis. Purpose: To report 12-month clinical outcomes, safety profile and success predictors of GATT in patients with OAG. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study of patients (18 y old and above) with medically uncontrolled OAG who underwent GATT as a solo procedure or combined with phacoemulsification (PHACO-GATT) between January 2018 and January 2020. Success at 12 months (primary outcome) was defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) <15 mm Hg, with an IOP reduction of at least 20%, OR a reduction of at least 2 glaucoma medications, compared with baseline. Secondary outcomes were success predictors and safety parameters. Results: A total of 73 eyes (GATT=38; PHACO-GATT=35) from 58 patients with a mean age of 54.8 +/- 11.6 years were included. Overall, after 12 months of follow-up, the mean IOP was reduced from 24.9 +/- 8.5 to 12.1 +/- 2.1 mm Hg (P<0.001). The mean number of glaucoma medications was reduced from 3.5 +/- 0.7 to 1.2 +/- 1.2 (P<0.001). The success rate was 87% at 12 months, with no significant differences between GATT (85%) and PHACO-GATT (91%) eyes (P=0.330). Age was the only factor significantly associated with surgical success (hazard ratio=1.35; P=0.012; after adjusting for preoperative IOP and number of glaucoma medications). Patients older than 60 years had a significant greater chance of failure (hazard ratio=10.96; P=0.026) compared with those younger than 60 years. The most common postoperative complication was transient hyphema (39%; median duration, 5 d). No sight-threatening adverse event was documented. Conclusions: GATT was effective and safe at lowering IOP with or without cataract extraction in OAG. Patients 60 years or older had a higher risk of failure compared with those younger in age.