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In this randomized controlled study, Samuelson et al. followed 556 patients for 24 months and compared IOP and medication after Hydrus implantation (Ivantis, Inc, Irvine, CA) combined with cataract surgery versus cataract surgery alone. The Hydrus is made out of nitinol, nickel-titanium alloy, and has a length of 8 mm1 spanning about 76°. Like the iStent (Glaukos, San Clemente, CA) made of titanium, it is implanted through viscoelastic under direct gonioscopic visualization. The study had an adequate sample size and was rigorously designed.
The differences between both groups were surprisingly small: Hydrus patients had a 2.2 mmHg larger IOP reduction than control patients (Hydrus: −7.6 ± 4.1 mmHg (mean ± standard deviation, SD), control: −5.3 ± 3.9 mmHg control). 19.5% more Hydrus than control patients had a more than 20% IOP reduction (Hydrus: 77.3%, control: 57.8%). Similarly, the Hydrus reduced medications by 0.4 more than the control (Hydrus: 1.7 ± 0.9 to 0.3 ± 0.8, control 1.7 ± 0.9 to 0.7 ± 0.9). The results are strikingly similar to the seminal iStent study,2 in which 18% more iStent eyes achieved an IOP reduction of more than 20% compared to controls.
The results are strikingly similar to the seminal iStent study, in which 18% more iStent eyes achieved an IOP reduction of more than 20% compared to controlsIn this Hydrus study, patients had an IOP of about 18 mmHg prior to and 25 mmHg after washout. One can compute this as an IOP reduction to 18 mmHg (Hydrus) and to 20 mmHg (controls).
Cataract surgery can cause an IOP drop on its own.3 Interestingly, such a trabeculoplasty- like effect is not present in MIGS procedures that ablate the TM, like the Trabectome (Neomedix Inc., Tustin, CA).4,5
Because Schlemm's canal has septations that hinder circumferential flow, a single opening (e.g., iStent) provides access to approximately 60° of outflow channels.6 The Hydrus would be predicted to achieve access to nearly 120° when disrupting Schlemm's canal septations 60° apart. It is interesting that the Hydrus does not appear to be fundamentally better than the iStent despite this advantage. Recent reports found a biofilm buildup7 and fibrosis8 that occlude the lumen of the iStent. This might explain the declining efficacy compared to TM ablation as observed in a study using Exact Matching9 and also affect the Hydrus.