Multicenter clinical trial of high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment in glaucoma patients without previous filtering surgery

PurposeTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of the ultrasonic circular cyclocoagulation procedure in patients with open-angle glaucoma naive of previous filtering surgery. MethodsProspective non-comparative interventional clinical study conducted in five French University Hospitals. Thirty eyes of 30 patients with open-angle glaucoma, intra-ocular pressure (IOP)>21mmHg and with no previous filtering glaucoma surgeries were sonicated with a probe comprising six piezoelectric transducers. The six transducers were activated with a 6-s exposure time. Complete ophthalmic examinations were performed before the procedure and at 1day, 1week, 1, 2, 3, 6 and 12months after the procedure. Primary outcomes were qualified surgical success (defined as IOP reduction from baseline 20% and IOP>5mmHg with possible re-intervention and without hypotensive medication adjunction) and complete surgical success (defined as IOP reduction from baseline 20%, IOP>5mmHg and IOP<21mmHg with possible re-intervention and without hypotensive medication adjunction) at the last follow-up visit and vision-threatening complications. Secondary outcomes were mean IOP at each follow-up visit compared with baseline, medication use, complications and re-interventions. ResultsIntra-ocular pressure was significantly reduced (p<0.05) from a mean pre-operative value of 28.27.2mmHg (n=3.6 hypotensive medications) to 19.6 +/- 7.9mmHg at 12months (n=3.1 hypotensive medications and n=1.1 procedures) (mean IOP reduction of 30%). Qualified success was achieved in 63% of eyes (19/30) (mean IOP reduction of 37% in these eyes) and complete success in 46.7% of eyes (14/30) (mean IOP reduction of 37% in these eyes) at the last follow-up. No major intra- or post-operative complications occurred. ConclusionsThe UC3 procedure seems to be an effective and well-tolerated method to reduce IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma without previous filtering surgery.