Industry

Consider cyclophotocoagulation for glaucoma more often

Healio Optometry3h ago1 min read

WASHINGTON— Cyclophotocoagulation, a safe and effective procedure, should be considered by ophthalmologists more often for patients with glaucoma, according to a presenter.At Glaucoma Day during the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting, Jonathan Eisengart, MD, said that, while cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) has traditionally been reserved for eyes with low vision, pain from elevated IOP, or those that have previously underwent failed outflow procedures, trabeculectomy and tube shunts may not necessarily be safer options.“I certainly don't need to remind you of the various

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AI Summary

Quick Take

At ASCRS Glaucoma Day, Dr. Jonathan Eisengart argued that cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) should be utilized more broadly in glaucoma management rather than being reserved as a last-resort treatment. He challenged the traditional hierarchy of care, suggesting that CPC’s safety profile is competitive with—and potentially superior to—incisional procedures like trabeculectomy and tube shunts.

Why It Matters

CPC has long carried a clinical stigma as a 'destructive' procedure reserved for blind, painful eyes or end-stage cases where all else has failed. This perspective may be outdated and could be preventing patients from accessing a safe, effective method of IOP control that avoids the bleb-related risks of invasive surgery. As the industry moves toward interventional glaucoma, reconsidering the timing of ciliary body procedures could significantly alter long-term management strategies for moderate-to-advanced cases.

Key Findings

Cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) is traditionally limited to eyes with low vision, pain from elevated IOP, or those with failed prior outflow procedures.
Traditional incisional surgeries, such as trabeculectomy and tube shunts, are not necessarily safer options than CPC.
The procedure is identified as a safe and effective tool that remains underutilized in standard glaucoma care.
A shift in clinical mindset is encouraged to move CPC earlier in the treatment paradigm for a wider patient demographic.

Practice Implications

Ophthalmologists should consider CPC as a viable alternative to tube shunts or trabeculectomy earlier in the disease progression, rather than waiting for incisional surgery to fail. When counseling patients on surgical options, the safety profile of CPC should be weighed against the long-term maintenance and complication risks associated with traditional filtration surgery.

Who's Affected

OphthalmologistsGlaucoma SpecialistsCataract Surgeons

What's Next

As more surgeons adopt this 'CPC-sooner' approach, look for updated clinical consensus and long-term comparative data between CPC and modern MIGS or tube shunts. Further presentations at major meetings are likely to focus on refining patient selection for earlier ciliary body intervention.

Evidence StrengthModerate

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