False Passage of 5-0 Polypropylene Suture into Episcleral Vein during Gonioscopy-Assisted Transluminal Trabeculotomy

Abstract

Gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy (GATT) is a promising cost-effective minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). The main advantage is safety with regards to low risk for hypotony and its related complications. However, the Schlemm’s canal (SC) based procedures have a different set of complications, the most common being hyphema and transient intraocular pressure spike. The other rare complications being, the false passage of the suture by traversing the external wall of the SC into the suprachoroidal space or posterior chamber or breaching the internal wall of the SC into the anterior chamber. Although these complications are rare, knowledge about them is important not only for early identification but for prevention and management if they occur. Through this case report, we describe a rare complication where the suture had traversed through a dilated episcleral vein during GATT. To our knowledge, there has been no prior report of such a complication.