The Histopathology of Two Eyes Enucleated after Continuous Transscleral and Micropulse Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation for Refractory Secondary Glaucoma

Abstract

Introduction: Cyclodestructive procedures, which target the nonpigmented epithelium of the ciliary body, have been utilized to treat recalcitrant glaucoma since the early 1930s. There are now various types of cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) available. The authors provide a retrospective description that details the histopathologic findings in 2 patients who underwent CPC for uncontrolled uveitic and neovascular glaucoma (NVG) with subsequent enucleation. Case Presentations: Two enucleated globes from 2 patients with secondary refractory glaucoma underwent cilioablative therapy: one with uveitic glaucoma and a remote history of micropulse transscleral CPC (MP-TSCPC) and the other with NVG and a recent history of traditional continuous transscleral CPC (CW-TSCPC). The clinical histories are summarized, and light microscopy reviewed for degree of coagulative necrosis and inflammation of the ciliary body and surrounding structures, as well as the underlying pathology of the glaucoma. Conclusion: Both patients ultimately experienced pain and vision loss with either a recrudescence of elevated intraocular pressure or inflammatory hypotony and subsequently underwent enucleation of the affected eye. One globe was enucleated shortly after CW-TSCPC and found to have near full-thickness coagulative necrosis of the pigmented and nonpigmented ciliary epithelium and ciliary muscle as well as necrosis of adjacent nontarget tissues with fibrin in the anterior chamber. The second patient underwent enucleation many months after MP-TSCPC with partial healing fibrosis of the ciliary body and some remaining viable ciliary processes. The histopathologic findings post-CPC may vary based on the method used and evolve over time; additional study is needed.