■ Researchers led by Ronald de Crom, MPC, MD, of the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands, set out to determine the effectiveness of a standardized micropulse trans-scleral cyclophotocoagulation (TSCPC; MicroPulse P3 probe, Iridex Cyclo G6 laser system) at the University Eye Clinic Maastricht from November 2016 to May 2018. Patients with at least 12 months of follow-up were included.

A total of 141 eyes of 136 patients were included. Mean age was 67.2±14.5 years, 56.6% of patients were male. The glaucoma subtypes treated were primary glaucoma (n=99) and secondary glaucoma (n=42). Prior glaucoma surgery had been performed in 59 of 141 eyes (41.8%). Mean preoperative IOP was 23.5±9.4 mmHg. Mean postoperative IOP dropped to 16.8±8.4, 17.0±7.8, and 16.8±9.2 mmHg, after 12, 18, and 24 months, respectively. The mean number of IOP-lowering medications used preoperatively was 3.3±1.4. The mean number of medications used at 12 months was 2.6±1.5, at 18 months was 2.5±1.4, and at 24 months was 2.2±1.5.

Complications reported after surgery included cystoid macular edema (n=2), hypotony maculopathy (n=1), fibrinous/uveitic reaction (n=1), and rejection of corneal graft (n=1), which were reversible with treatment. One patient developed persistent hypotony in the late postoperative period.

The researchers concluded that micropulse TSCPC is a safe and effective treatment for lowering both IOP and the number of IOP-lowering medications. Micropulse TSCPC can also be considered as a good alternative treatment option for patients after failed incisional glaucoma surgery or patients who are at high risk for incisional surgery.