Efficacy and safety of combined Xen Gel Stent-45 implantation and 25-gauge Pars Plana Vitrectomy: a case series.

Purpose: To report outcomes in terms of efficacy and safety of patients affected with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) and Vitreoretinal Disease, who have undergone Pars Plana Vitrectomy (PPV) and ab-interno XEN gel 45 (Abbvie) implantations. Methods: This is a retrospective, observational, case series on five patients who underwent combined Pars Plana Vitrectomy and XEN gel Stent 45 implantation at "Careggi Hospital" Eye Clinic of Florence. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) evaluation, intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements with Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT), and several glaucoma medications were evaluated at the baseline and at one, three, six, and twelve months after surgery. Complications were recorded up to 1 year after surgery. Results: 5 eyes in five patients were enrolled. IOP dropped from an average of 21,2 ± 3,3 mmHg preoperatively to 14,6 ± 1,1 mmHg at the end of the follow-up period (month 12), with a mean percentage reduction of 58%. One patient needed a needling procedure (20%). None needed reintervention. We did not register any case of hypotony (IOP < 6,5 mmHg), hypotony maculopathy and choroidal detachment. The postoperative number of anti-glaucomatous molecules was on average 0,2 ± 0,4. Conclusion: Our results suggested that combined Pars Plana Vitrectomy and XEN gel stent 45 implantation is safe and effective for patients affected by visually significant vitreoretinal diseases and POAG. Abbreviations: AC = anterior chamber, BCVA = Best-corrected visual acuity, ERM = epiretinal membrane, FTMH = full-thickness macular holes, FU = fluorouracil, GAT = Goldmann applanation tonometer, IOP = intraocular pressure, MIGS = minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, MMC = mitomycin C, NVG = neovascular glaucoma, OCT = optical coherence tomography, POAG = Primary Open Angle Glaucoma, PPV = Pars Plana Vitrectomy, SD = standard deviation, TB = Trabeculectomy, VF = visual field, VMI = Vitreomacular Interface, VMA = vitreomacular adhesion, VMT = vitreomacular traction.