Histological Findings in the Trabecular Meshwork of a Patient with Atopic Glaucoma

The aim of this study was to report a case of atopic dermatitis showing elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) beyond the baseline levels followed by a modified 360-degree suture trabeculotomy, and to analyze the histological findings in the trabecular meshwork.

A 40-year-old male suffered from blurred vision in the right eye (OD). He had a medical history of severe atopic dermatitis and intraocular lens implantation OU due to atopic cataract. At the initial presentation, the visual acuity was 0.03, and IOP was 35 mmHg OD. Slit-lamp examination demonstrated corneal epithelial edema OD. Increased IOP was refractory to several topical medications. The patient underwent a modified 360-degree suture trabeculotomy. The visual field defect, however, deteriorated with persistently high IOP. The patient underwent trabeculectomy together with drainage implant surgery. In the outflow routes, although there seemed to be an opening of Schlemm’s canal into the anterior chamber, there was no endothelium of the canal in the region of its opening. The fibrotic changes were conspicuous around Schlemm’s canal.

The histological results indicated that trabeculotomy might not be an appropriate treatment for patients with atopic glaucoma, possibly because of excessive repair to the newly created uveoscleral outflow in addition to the increased postoperative fibrosis in the trabecular meshwork and Schlemm’s canal.