Microhook ab interno trabeculotomy, a novel minimally invasive glaucoma surgery

Abstract

Trabeculotomy (LOT) is performed to reduce the intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma, both in children and adults. It relieves the resistance to aqueous flow by cleaving the trabecular meshwork and the inner walls of Schlemm’s canal. Microhook ab interno LOT (μLOT), a novel minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, incises trabecular meshwork using small hooks that are inserted through corneal side ports. An initial case series reported that both μLOT alone and combination of μLOT and cataract surgery normalize the intraocular pressure during the early postoperative period in Japanese patients with glaucoma. Microhook can incise the inner wall of Schlemm’s canal without damaging its outer wall easier than the regular straight knife that is used during goniotomy. Advantages of μLOT include: a wider extent of LOT (two-thirds of the circumference), a simpler surgical technique, being less invasiveness to the ocular surface, a shorter surgical time than traditional ab externo LOT, and no requirement for expensive devices. In this paper, the surgical technique of μLOT and tips of the technique are introduced.