Micro-stent is safe and effective after 2-years

A supracilliary micro-stent (CyPass, Transcend Medical, Menlo Park, California, USA), when implanted in conjunction with cataract surgery, substantially reduces intraocular pressure (IOP) with minimal complications in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG), according to researchers in Germany and the US.

The researchers conducted a multicentre, prospective, consecutive case series of 136 eyes in 136 subjects with OAG. All of the eyes required cataract surgery, and underwent a combined phacoemulsification with intraocular lens insertion and implantation of the micro-stent. The researchers examined 24-month postoperative data.

At baseline, the subjects were divided into two cohorts: Cohort 1 (51 patients) had uncontrolled IOP of greater than 21 mmHg; Cohort 2 (85 patients) had controlled IOP of less than 21 mmHg. All of the patients were receiving glaucoma medications, which were discontinued postoperatively.

Eighty-two patients remained in the study through the 24-month follow up. After 24 months, the mean IOP in Cohort 1 (23 patients) was 15.8 ± 3.8 mmHg (a reduction of 37% ± 19%). The mean IOP decrease from baseline in Cohort 1 was statistically significant (P P = 0.0188) and 12 (P = 0.0356) in Cohort 2.

No sight-threatening adverse events occurred, and there was a statistically significant mean decrease of glaucoma medication use in both cohorts. To read an abstract of the study published in Klinische Monatsblätter für Augenheilkunde, click here.