Ab interno trabeculectomy with Trabectome: outcomes in African American versus Caucasian patients

Objective: To compare the intraocular pressure-lowering efficacy and complication rate of ab interno trabeculectomy with the Trabectome between African American (AA) and Caucasian patients with open-angle glaucoma. Methods: A total of 164 patients (82 AA and 82 Caucasian) who underwent ab interno trabeculectomy over an 8-year period were included in this prospective, case-control study. The Neomedix database was used to look for AA or Caucasian patients with open-angle glaucoma who underwent Trabectome with or without phacoemulsification. Results: The average 10P of AA patients was reduced from 21.2 +/- 6.8 mm Hg to 16.1 +/- 4.1 mm Hg at 12 M (p < 0.01), and the mean number of glaucoma medications was reduced from 2.4 +/- 1.3 to 2.0 +/- 1.4 (p = 0.13). Among Caucasians, the mean 10P was reduced from 21.2 +/- 6.8 mm Hg to 15.7 +/- 4.2 mm Hg at 12 M (p < 0.01), and the number of medications dropped from 2.4 +/- 1.2 to 1.7 +/- 1.3 (p < 0.01). No statistically significant difference was found between these 2 race groups in 10P, number of medications, and complications. For complications with Trabectome alone, 13% of AA and 9% of Caucasian patients needed secondary surgery. There was only 1 case of hypotony which was in the AA group. For complications with Trabectome combined with phacoemulsification, 4% of AA as well as 4% of Caucasian patients required secondary surgery. There was only 1 case of hypotony which was in the Caucasian group. Conclusion: Ab interno trabeculectomy with Trabectome is associated with a reduction in 10P in both race groups with a similar complication and survival profiles.