Short-term outcomes of micropulse transscleral laser therapy using the revised delivery probe in refractory glaucoma

Purpose To evaluate the effectiveness of MicroPulse ® transscleral laser therapy (MP-TLT) using both the original and revised MicroPulse P3 ® delivery probes in patients with refractory glaucoma. Study design Retrospective study Methods We analyzed the data of patients with refractory glaucoma who underwent MP-TLT with the original and with the revised MicroPulse P3 ® Delivery Device from January 2018 to December 2020 at the University of Tokyo Hospital and who were followed up for 3 months. Patients’ demographics, preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), medication scores, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and complications were analyzed. Results This study enrolled 40 patients in both probe groups. At baseline, the mean IOP was 31.1 mmHg in the original group and 29.2 mmHg in the revised group, and it decreased to 22.6 mmHg and 21.6 mmHg after 3 months, respectively (paired t-test p=0.001, 0.001). No significant difference was noted between the number of medications and BCVA at baseline and 3 months in either probe group (paired t-test, p>0.05). Nor were any serious complications observed. Conclusion MP-TLT using the revised MicroPulse P3 ® Delivery Device for the treatment of refractory glaucoma was effective in reducing IOP across glaucoma types with an excellent safety profile and was well-tolerated by the patients.