ViaLase and the John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah have announced a research partnership to evaluate the dynamics of aqueous humor outflow associated with ViaLase’s innovative laser procedure for glaucoma treatment. This collaboration will leverage the Moran Eye Center’s iPerfusion technology, a sophisticated tool for studying how fluid drains from the eye via the trabecular meshwork and Schlemm’s canal.

The ViaLase procedure utilizes femtosecond laser pulses guided by high-precision imaging to create micron-scale apertures in the trabecular meshwork. The partnership aims to determine the effects of creating multiple drainage channels and identify optimal locations for these apertures, with the goal of enhancing the procedure’s ability to lower intraocular pressure (IOP), a critical factor in glaucoma management.

The research will be led by Iqbal K. "Ike" Ahmed, MD, FRCSC, director of the Alan S. Crandall Center for Glaucoma Innovation, alongside Fiona McDonnell, PhD, an expert in iPerfusion, and Ian Pitha, MD, PhD, the center’s associate director. The Crandall Center, named for the late Dr. Alan S. Crandall, is known for its commitment to advancing glaucoma care through personalized and innovative approaches.

The ViaLase Laser received CE Mark approval in July 2024. It is not approved for use in the United States.