Efficacy and Safety of Repeated Micropulse Transscleral Diode Cyclophotocoagulation in Advanced Glaucoma

Repeat micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (MPTCP) has some benefit in lowering intraocular pressure (IOP). There was a small risk of loss of vision, prolonged hypotony, and phthisis bulbi.

This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of repeated MPTCP for an Asian population with refractory glaucoma.

This is a retrospective case series of 43 eyes (43 patients) with severe glaucoma which underwent repeated MPTCP. Baseline parameters were taken from the visit just before the second MPTCP session. Success was defined as IOP of 6 to 21 mm Hg or ≥20% reduction in IOP without an increase in glaucoma medication from baseline, without further glaucoma reoperation, and ≤3 total MPTCP episodes. The IOP, number of IOP-lowering medications, and best-corrected visual acuity were documented preoperatively and postoperatively. Postoperative complications were also analyzed.

The mean age±SD was 57.4±18.2 years with a mean follow-up duration of 28.9±27.5 months. Neovascular glaucoma was the most common type of glaucoma [18 eyes (41.9%)]. The success rates at postoperative years 1, 2, and 3, and the latest follow-up were 36.4%, 42.9%, 32.0%, and 39.5%, respectively. The median survival time of repeat MPTCP was 4.6 months. Compared with the preoperative mean IOP (35.2±11.0 mm Hg), the mean IOP at postoperative years 1, 2, and 3, and latest follow-up, was 27.8±13.7 mm Hg (P=0.004), 27.4±12.4 (P=0.003), 31.8±13.2 (P=0.35), and 27.1±13.8 mm Hg (P=0.002), respectively. The mean number of IOP-lowering medications was reduced from 3.3±0.9 preoperatively to 2.8±1.3 at the final follow-up (P=0.007). Postoperative complications included prolonged hypotony [3 eyes (7.0%)] and phthisis bulbi [2 eyes (4.7%)].

Repeated MPTCP is at best moderately effective in lowering IOP for eyes with advanced glaucoma.