Abstract
Purpose:
To assess the safety and efficacy of Ultasound Circular Cyclo-Coagulation (UC Procedure)using HIFU (high intensity focused ultrasound) in patients with refractory glaucoma
Methods:
Prospective clinical series performed in two centers, on twenty-seven eyes of twenty-seven patients with refractory glaucoma, treated with the EyeOP1 medical device equipped with six miniaturized cylindrical piezoelectric transducers. All eyes were treated with a 6-second exposure time from each transducer. The main assessment criteria were safety and efficacy as indicated by the incidence of complications and by the IOP reduction. Ophthalmic, ultrasound biomicroscopy and flare examinations were performed before treatment and during clinical follow-up at D1, D7, M1, M2, M3 and M6.
Results:
No major intra- or post-operative complications occurred. Clinical examination showed no lesions of the ocular structures other than the ciliary body and no or few signs of intraocular inflammation after treatment. Visual acuity was not modified after the procedure. The mean intraocular pressure was reduced from 26.9 ± 8.0 mmHg before treatment to 16.8 ± 7.4 mmHg at last follow-up. Three patients needed to be re-treated. The success rate, as defined by an IOP reduction >20%, was 78%. The mean IOP reduction achieved was 37.5%. Ocular inflammation evidenced by flare was very limited and non-significant
Conclusions:
Coagulation of the ciliary body using high intensity focused ultrasound delivered by miniaturized transducers is a simple, well-tolerated procedure which enables to significantly reduce the intraocular pressure in patients with refractory glaucoma
Keywords: 632 outflow: ciliary muscle