Advertisement

PentaVision

Glaucoma Physician

Article | 2026 American Glaucoma Society Meeting

Xen Study Finds Ab Interno and Externo Approaches Equally Effective

Researchers from the University of Illinois College of Medicine found that both approaches reduce IOP, lower medications, and improve visual acuity.

By: Evan Lagouros, MD, Cecilia Canizela, BS
Glaucoma Physician February 23, 2026
5 Key Takeaways

  • 1

    Both ab interno and ab externo approaches to Xen gel stent surgery are equally effective in reducing intraocular pressure (IOP).

  • 2

    The study demonstrated that both surgical methods lower the number of medications required for glaucoma management.

  • 3

    Improvement in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was equivalent for both surgical approaches over a follow-up period of up to 3 years.

  • 4

    The research emphasizes the importance of surgeon preference, as both methods yield similar long-term outcomes.

  • 5

    There was no statistically significant difference between the two approaches at any time point during the 3-year follow-up.