Brazil's SUS to offer simultaneous glaucoma and cataract surgery

The Brazilian Ministry of Health has officially incorporated a new surgical technique into the Unified Health System (SUS) that allows for the simultaneous treatment of glaucoma and cataracts. The decision, published in the Official Gazette, enables the removal of the lens and the clearing of the ocular drainage canal in a single intervention.

Proposed by the Secretariat of Science, Technology, and Health Innovation (SCTIE) and approved by the National Commission for the Incorporation of Technologies in SUS (Conitec), the procedure is intended for mild to moderate cases of primary open-angle glaucoma. The technique is noted for being less invasive than current options, offering faster recovery, a lower risk of complications, and improved intraocular pressure control to prevent blindness.

The new procedure will be included in the Clinical Protocol and Therapeutic Guidelines (PCDT). It encompasses two surgical possibilities: an excisional goniotomy via a small corneal incision, or a transluminal trabeculotomy using a microcatheter or surgical thread introduced into the eye's natural drainage canal.