A retrospective cohort study of open-angle glaucoma patients who had prior trabeculectomy or tube shunt surgery saw significant IOP lowering on netarsudil ophthalmic solution 0.02% (Rhopressa; Aerie Pharmaceuticals). Brandon Wummer, BSc, presented the data on behalf of the coauthors at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery 2022 annual meeting.

The researchers evaluated 55 eyes of 41 patients who had trabeculectomy an average of about 7.5 years earlier and 28 eyes of 25 patients who had tube shunt surgery an average of 2.8 years prior. Before starting netarsudil, baseline IOP was 17.5±5.7 mmHg in the trabeculectomy group and 23.7±9.2 mmHg in the tube shunt group. In the trabeculectomy group, average IOP was 14.6±4.8 at 1 month, 15.4±5.5 at 3 months, and 13.9±4.3 at 6 months (P<.001 for all intervals). In the tube shunt group, average IOP was 16.7±5.1 at 1 month (P<.0001), 15.4±3.7 at 3 months (P=.013), and 12.7±3.9 at 6 months (P=.0012).

The investigators reported that within 6 months, 7 (12.7%) eyes needed intervention in the trabeculectomy group, and 9 (32.1%) eyes needed intervention in the tube shunt group.