Clinical Debates on Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS): Visual Function after Schlemm’s Canal-Based MIGS

Filtration surgery is highly effective in lowering intraocular pressure; however, it is associated with a higher risk of severe complications. Visual dysfunction may persist in relatively uneventful cases because of induced astigmatism or worsening optical aberrations. Therefore, for early-to-moderate-stage glaucoma, an increasing number of surgeons are prioritizing surgical safety and preserving postoperative visual function by opting for minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). Among the various MIGS techniques, canal opening surgery—targeting aqueous outflow through the Schlemm’s canal (Schlemm’s canal-based MIGS, CB-MIGS)—has gained increasing popularity. Unlike filtration surgery, CB-MIGS does not require creating an aqueous outflow pathway between the intraocular and extraocular spaces. Consequently, it is considered a minimally invasive procedure with a reduced risk of severe complications and is increasingly being chosen for suitable cases. Although this surgical technique has limitations in lowering intraocular pressure, it avoids the manipulation of the conjunctiva or sclera and is primarily performed through a small corneal incision. Therefore, minimal impact on induced astigmatism or postoperative refractive changes is expected. However, few reviews have summarized the changes in visual function, such as postoperative corrected visual acuity, refraction, astigmatism, or the effectiveness of visual field preservation. Therefore, we aimed to review the literature on visual function after CB-MIGS. Hyphema is the primary cause of early postoperative vision loss and is often transient in cases in which other complications would have led to visual impairment. Severe complications that threaten vision are rare. Additionally, compared with filtration surgery, postoperative visual recovery tends to be faster, and the degree of induced astigmatism is comparable to that of standalone cataract surgery. When combined with cataract surgery, the refractive error is at the same level as that of cataract surgery alone. However, in some cases, mild hyperopic shifts may occur because of axial length shortening, depending on the extent of intraocular pressure reduction. This possibility has been highlighted in several studies. Regarding the effectiveness of slowing the progression of visual field defects, most studies have focused on short- to medium-term postoperative outcomes. Many of these studies have reported sufficient suppression of progression rates. However, studies with large sample sizes and long-term prospective designs are limited. To establish more robust evidence, future research should focus on conducting larger-scale, long-term investigations.