Safety and efficacy of ultrasound ciliary plasty as a primary intervention in glaucoma patients

Efficacy and safety of ultrasound cycloplasty for the treatment of glaucoma: a Meta-analysis

AIM

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound cycloplasty (UCP) for glaucoma.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases was used to select studies met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis was performed by Review Manager and StataCorp LLC.

RESULTS

A total of 19 articles met the inclusion criteria. Overall, UCP is effective and safe in the glaucoma treatment, the risk ratio (RR) of the success rate was 2.28 (95%CI, 1.82-2.84). After UCP, patients had a significant reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP; mm Hg), the weighted mean difference (WMD) was 11.39 (95%CI, 9.88-12.90). In addition, UCP brings fewer postoperative complications with RR of 0.30 (95%CI, 0.19-0.49). Most of the complications were short-term and mild. Postoperatively, patients' use of IOP-lowering medications reduced, the standardized mean difference (SMD) was 0.78 (95%CI, 0.40-1.17). However, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA; logMAR) did not have obvious improvement after UCP, the WMD was 0.01 (95%CI, -0.06-0.09). This procedure does provide painfulness relief, with RR of 3.06 (95%CI, 1.95-4.81).

CONCLUSION

UCP is effective and safe for suitable glaucoma. It can effectively decrease IOP in glaucoma patients, reduce the patients' dependence on IOP-lowering medications after surgery, relief the painfulness and has fewer long-term or severe postoperative complications, but the BCVA did not improve much.

Outcomes and Predictors of Failure of Ultrasound Cyclo Plasty for Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

Aims: To evaluate the outcomes of ultrasound cyclo plasty (UCP) for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and identify the predictors of failure. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with POAG who underwent UCP at King Abdul Aziz University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between 2016 and 2021. The main outcome measures were the intraocular pressure (IOP), the number of antiglaucoma medications, and the presence of vision-threatening complications. The surgical outcome of each eye was based on the main outcome measures. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was performed to identify the possible predictors of UCP failure. Results: Sixty-six eyes of fifty-five patients were included herein. The mean follow-up period was 28.95 (±16.9) months. The mean IOP decreased significantly from 23.02 (±6.1) to 18.22 (±7.0) and 16.44 (±5.3) mm Hg on the 12th and 24th months, respectively; the mean number of antiglaucoma medications decreased significantly from 3.23 (±0.9) to 2.15 (±1.5) and 2.09 (±1.6), respectively. The cumulative probabilities of overall success were 71.2 ± 5.6% and 40.9 ± 6.1% on the 12th and 24th months, respectively. High baseline IOP and the number of antiglaucoma medications were associated with a higher risk of failure (hazard ratio = 1.10 and 3.01, p = 0.04 and p < 0.01, respectively). The most common complications were cataract development or progression (30.8%) and prolonged or rebound anterior chamber reaction (10.6%). Conclusions: UCP reasonably controls the IOP and reduces the antiglaucoma medication burden in eyes with POAG. Nevertheless, the success rate is modest, with a high baseline IOP and number of medications.

Efficacy and safety of high-intensity focused ultrasound cyclo-plasty in glaucoma

Background

High-intensity focused ultrasound cyclo-plasty (UCP) is a recently developed glaucoma surgery. This study collected and analysed the clinical data of patients who underwent UCP to observe the efficacy and safety of this surgery in Chinese glaucoma patients.

Methods

This was a retrospective study. The clinical data of all the patients who underwent UCP at Affiliated Foshan Hospital, Southern Medical University, were collected and analysed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of UCP. The main outcome measure was intraocular pressure, and the secondary outcome measures were best corrected visual acuity (logMAR) and complications.

Results

Fifty-eight patients (61 eyes) were recruited for this study. IOP was dramatically decreased during the 12 months after UCP (p<0.05). The median IOP reduction during the 18 months post-procedure was more than 30%. The greatest reduction was at 1 month post-UCP (60.86%). The qualified success rate was more than 60% during the 18-month follow-up (Fig. 1). Poor follow up was found after 6-month post-UCP. The highest success rate was obtained at 7 days post-UCP (94.55%). No statistically significant decrease in BCVA in the vison group was observed at the follow-up visits, except for 1 day post-UCP. There was a statistically significant reduction in the use of IOP lowering medications during the 6 months post-UCP. No severe complications occurred.

Conclusion

UCP is a safe and effective procedure for primary and refractive glaucoma at least during the 6 months post-UCP procedure. Studies with longer follow-up time and better follow up are needed to further confirm the long-term efficacy and safety of UCP in Chinese glaucoma patients.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12886-022-02622-5.

Ultrasound Cyclo Plasty for Treatment of Surgery-Naïve Open-Angle Glaucoma Patients: A Prospective, Multicenter, 2-Year Follow-Up Trial

Background: The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Ultrasound Cyclo Plasty (UCP) procedure using high-intensity focused ultrasound in surgery-naïve open-angle glaucoma patients. Methods: prospective, non-randomized, single-arm, multicenter clinical trial. Sixty-six eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma, intraocular pressure (IOP) ≥21 mmHg and with no history of filtering surgery were enrolled. Patients were treated by UCP with a therapy probe comprising six piezoelectric transducers, consecutively activated for 8 s each. Complete ophthalmic examination was performed before the procedure, 1 day after the procedure, and 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after the procedure. Primary outcomes were complete success (defined as IOP lowering from baseline ≥20% without additional glaucoma medications) and vision-threatening complications. Secondary outcomes were the presence of complications and the reduction of the number of medications used. Results: IOP was significantly reduced after one procedure (p < 0.05), from a mean pre-operative value of 24.3 ± 2.9 mmHg (n = 2.3 hypotensive medications) to a mean value of 15.9 ± 3.6 mmHg (n = 2.2 hypotensive medications) at 2 years (mean IOP lowering of 33%). Surgical success was achieved in 74% of eyes. Notwithstanding side effects such as transient anterior chamber inflammation, refractive error changes, transient hypotony and macular edema, no major intra or post-operative complications such as phthisis, induced cataract, neovascularization or significant vision loss were observed. Conclusions: Ultrasound Cyclo Plasty is a valuable, effective and well-tolerated procedure to lower IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma without previous filtering surgery.

Ultrasound and Microbubbles for the Treatment of Ocular Diseases: From Preclinical Research towards Clinical Application

The unique anatomy of the eye and the presence of various biological barriers make efficacious ocular drug delivery challenging, particularly in the treatment of posterior eye diseases. This review focuses on the combination of ultrasound and microbubbles (USMB) as a minimally invasive method to improve the efficacy and targeting of ocular drug delivery. An extensive overview is given of the in vitro and in vivo studies investigating the mechanical effects of ultrasound-driven microbubbles aiming to: (i) temporarily disrupt the blood–retina barrier in order to enhance the delivery of systemically administered drugs into the eye, (ii) induce intracellular uptake of anticancer drugs and macromolecules and (iii) achieve targeted delivery of genes, for the treatment of ocular malignancies and degenerative diseases. Finally, the safety and tolerability aspects of USMB, essential for the translation of USMB to the clinic, are discussed.

A 2-year prospective multicenter study of ultrasound cyclo plasty for glaucoma

Ultrasound cyclo plasty (UCP) is a recently developed surgical technique for glaucoma allowing a selective and controlled coagulation of the ciliary body. We herein investigated the long-term efficacy and safety of UCP for the treatment of glaucoma. This prospective study included patients with primary and secondary glaucoma. All surgeries were performed using the EyeOP1 device (Eye Tech Care, Rillieux-la-Pape, France). Sixty-six patients were included, and 60 completed regularly the 2-year follow-up. Preoperative IOP was 28.5 ± 9.6 mmHg and significantly decreased to 17.0 ± 5.4 at 2 years (p < 0.001). The daily number of both hypotensive eye drops and acetazolamide tablets decreased significantly (respectively, from 2.6 ± 1.1 to 1.7 ± 1.2 and from 0.7 ± 0.8 to 0.2 ± 0.5; both p < 0.001). At 2 years, 68.1% of patients met the definition of qualified success (IOP < 21 mmHg regardless of glaucoma medications) and 10.3% of patients met the definition of complete success (IOP < 21 mmHg without glaucoma medications). No major intra- or postoperative complications occurred; however, 15 eyes required additional glaucoma surgery. These results suggest that UCP is an effective and safe procedure to reduce IOP in glaucoma patients through a 2-year follow-up period.

Phaco-UCP; combined phacoemulsification and ultrasound ciliary plasty versus phacoemulsification alone for management of coexisting cataract and open angle glaucoma: a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Various surgical techniques have been described, to be combined with cataract surgery in glaucoma patients, aiming for an additional reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP), hence minimizing the burden of anti-glaucoma medication (AGM). Ultrasound ciliary plasty (UCP) is a recent microinvasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) recommended for primary and refractory glaucoma. This study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a new technique; combined phacoemulsification and ultrasound ciliary plasty (Phaco-UCP) as a primary surgical treatment for coexisting cataract and open angle glaucoma.

METHODS

A randomized clinical trial, including 61 eyes of 61 patients with visually significant cataract and open angle glaucoma, randomized to either Phaco-UCP (study group; 31 eyes) or phacoemulsification alone (Phaco-alone) (control group; 30 eyes). Primary outcomes included reduction in IOP and/or the number of AGM. Secondary outcomes included visual acuity improvement and complications. Qualified Success was defined as an IOP reduction ≥ 20% from baseline value, with an IOP 6-21 mmHg, with no additional AGM or glaucoma surgery. Failure was defined as either < 20% IOP reduction, despite AGM use, the need of glaucoma surgeries or serious complications.

RESULTS

At 18 months postoperatively, Phaco-UCP group had a median IOP reduction of 7 mmHg (Q1, Q3 = 3, 10) compared to 2 mmHg (Q1, Q3 = 2, 3) in Phaco-alone group (P < 0.001). Phaco-UCP group had significantly higher success rate at all time points reaching 67.7% at the last follow-up versus 16.7% only in Phaco-alone group (P< 0.001). The median number of AGM significantly decreased from [3 (Q1, Q3 = 2, 4), 3 (Q1, Q3 = 2,3)] respectively, (P =0.3)] at baseline to [1 (Q1,Q3 = 1, 2), 2 (Q1,Q3 = 2, 2)] respectively, (P < 0.001)] at 18 months postoperatively. No serious intraoperative or postoperative complications were encountered in either group.

CONCLUSION

Phaco-UCP is a simple, safe and effective procedure for management of coexisting cataract and open angle glaucoma.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT04430647 ; retrospectively registered. June 12, 2020.