Efficacy and Safety of Micropulse® Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation in Glaucoma.

OBJECTIVE

To report the results using Micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (Iridex) in the treatment of glaucoma.

METHODS

Retrospective study in adult patients with glaucoma with at least 6 months of follow-up, and only one session of Micropulse. The same surgical technique was used in all cases. The only laser parameter that could vary was the total treatment duration (in seconds). The remaining parameters were fixed at 2 Watts of power and 0.5ms (31.3%) of active cycle.

RESULTS

A total of 22 eyes of 17 patients with glaucoma of various types and stages were included (mainly congenital and pseudoexfoliation). The mean follow-up time was 7.9 months. The total treatment duration varied from 100 to 180seconds. Definition of success: 5mmHg <Intraocular pressure (IOP)<21mmHg and a reduction of ≥20% of the baseline value and no addition of oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, and no re-operation. The overall success rate was 72.7% in the first month, 54% at 4 months, 41% at 6 months, and 27.3% at final follow-up. Patients with longer treatment durations (180s) achieved better results. The mean reduction in IOP in successful eyes was 36% (from 26.3 to 16.7mmHg, SD 4.58, P=.028). No complications were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

In a heterogeneous population of glaucoma (mostly congenital and pseudoexfoliation types), a low success rate (27.3%) was obtained in the medium-term with a single session of Micropulse.