# Preoperative predictive thresholds for successful canaloplasty in glaucoma patients

**Authors:** Julia Prinz, Carla-Maria Epping, David Kuerten, Matthias Fuest, Claus Cursiefen, Peter Walter, Karl Mercieca, Verena Prokosch

PMC · DOI: 10.1007/s00417-025-06887-6 · Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology · 2025-07-04

## TL;DR

This study identifies preoperative intraocular pressure thresholds that predict the success of canaloplasty surgery in glaucoma patients.

## Contribution

The study introduces specific IOP thresholds that can help predict surgical success and improve patient selection for canaloplasty.

## Key findings

- Preoperative IOP thresholds of ≤36.9 mmHg and ≤27.1 mmHg predict qualified and complete surgical success, respectively.
- The number of preoperative IOP-lowering eye drops does not significantly affect surgical success.
- Canaloplasty is effective and safe for patients with preoperative IOP ≤36.9 mmHg or ≤27.1 mmHg.

## Abstract

To establish preoperative thresholds of intraocular pressure (IOP) levels and the number of IOP-lowering eye drops that predict the surgical success of canaloplasty.

This retrospective study included 166 glaucoma patients undergoing canaloplasty. Data on age, sex, glaucoma subtype, visual acuity, IOP, number of IOP-lowering eye drops, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and reoperations were collected during a 12-month follow-up period. Logistic regression models were applied to identify preoperative thresholds associated with an increased risk of surgical failure.

At 12 months, mean IOP decreased from 24.2 ± 7.8 to 14.8 ± 3.7 mmHg, and the number of IOP-lowering eye drops from 2.3 ± 1.1 to 0.6 ± 1.0 (both p < 0.001). For success rates ≤ 18 and ≤ 15 mmHg, logistic regression identified a preoperative IOP threshold of 36.9 and 27.1 mmHg (qualified success), and 27.1 and 20.1 mmHg (complete success), respectively, above which the likelihood of surgical failure increased. No significant association was found between the number of preoperative IOP-lowering eye drops and surgical success. No long-term postoperative complications were recorded.

In patients with preoperative IOPs of ≤ 36.9 mmHg or 27.1 mmHg, canaloplasty is likely to be an effective and safe procedure to obtain target pressures ≤ 18 mmHg with or without IOP-lowering eye drops, respectively. These data suggest that preoperative thresholds could help predict postoperative outcomes and improve patient selection for glaucoma surgery.

Canaloplasty is an effective surgical technique for lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucoma patients, but precise preoperative factors influencing its success remain unclear.

Canaloplasty is an effective surgical technique for lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucoma patients, but precise preoperative factors influencing its success remain unclear.

In our study, we identified IOP thresholds (≤ 36.9 mmHg for qualified success and ≤ 27.1 mmHg for complete success) that may predict the likelihood of achieving target pressures ≤ 18 mmHg with or without IOP-lowering eye drops, respectively.In our study, the number of preoperative IOP-lowering eye drops did not significantly impact the success of canaloplasty, suggesting that baseline IOP is a more critical predictor.These findings provide valuable preoperative criteria that can enhance patient selection, potentially improving surgical outcomes for glaucoma patients undergoing canaloplasty.

In our study, we identified IOP thresholds (≤ 36.9 mmHg for qualified success and ≤ 27.1 mmHg for complete success) that may predict the likelihood of achieving target pressures ≤ 18 mmHg with or without IOP-lowering eye drops, respectively.

In our study, the number of preoperative IOP-lowering eye drops did not significantly impact the success of canaloplasty, suggesting that baseline IOP is a more critical predictor.

These findings provide valuable preoperative criteria that can enhance patient selection, potentially improving surgical outcomes for glaucoma patients undergoing canaloplasty.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** glaucoma (MONDO:0005041)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** glaucoma (MESH:D005901)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12583393/full.md

## Figures

5 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12583393/full.md

## References

2 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12583393/full.md

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12583393