Preserflo MicroShunt versus Trabeculectomy: Efficacy and Surgical Success within a Heterogenous Patient Cohort

To compare success rates of trabeculectomy (TE) and Preserflo MicroShunt (PMS) in heterogenous glaucoma cohorts with regards to different pre- and postoperative therapeutic regimens. Data of 187 glaucoma patients who either received TE (73 eyes) or PMS implantation (114 eyes) between January 2018 and December 2022 were retrospectively evaluated. Surgical success and failure rates were analyzed within six months of follow-up. Intraocular pressure (IOP) development over the course of follow-up was compared between both groups. Tertiary outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), number and type of medications, frequency of postoperative complications and revision surgeries. Outcome measures underwent additional assessment based on subgroup categorizations, and failure time hazard ratios were computed. The success rates were comparable between both procedures (TE: 54.1%, PMS: 60.0%; <i>p</i> = 0.17). Both procedures showed significant IOP reduction (<i>p</i> < 0.01); however, overall IOP reduction was greater in the TE group than in the PMS group (TE: Reduction by 12 mmHg (188.9%), PMS: Reduction by 7 mmHg (51.3%); <i>p</i> = 0.01). The number of topical medications decreased significantly in both groups over the course of follow-up (TE: 4 to 0, PMS: 3 to 0; <i>p</i> < 0.01). While the number of complications and revision surgeries were similar in both groups, the time interval until the first revision surgery within the TE group was significantly shorter (TE: 13.5 d, PMS: 163 d; <i>p</i> = 0.01) than within the PMS group. No difference could be detected between TE and PMS with regard to the follow-up regimen. In particular, there was no significant difference in the need for 5-floururacil injections postoperatively (<i>p</i> = 0.29). Less invasive glaucoma surgery with the PMS appeared comparable to the TE within a heterogenous glaucoma cohort with regards to IOP development and freedom from medication.