Short-term outcomes of micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation as a primary versus additional therapy in eyes with uncontrolled glaucoma

PURPOSE: To study the safety and efficacy outcomes of Micropulse Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation (MP-TSCPC) as a primary versus additional therapy in eyes with uncontrolled glaucoma. METHODS: This was a prospective, interventional, comparative study. All patients with advanced and refractory glaucoma treated with MP-TSCPC from April 2020 to December 2020 were recruited in this study. RESULTS: A total of 77 eyes of 77 patients were analyzed. Group A (n = 33), included patients with advanced glaucoma at high risk for invasive surgery, who underwent MP-TSCPC as the primary intervention, and group B (n = 44) included patients who had undergone previous surgical intervention and MP-TSCPC was used additionally to control the intraocular pressure (IOP). Mean IOP and mean number of antiglaucoma medications were 34.06 (13.9) mmHg and 3.64 (0.7), respectively, in group A and 35.61 (11.5) mmHg and 3.73 (0.9), respectively, in Group B. Postoperatively, the mean IOP and percentage of IOP reduction were significantly lower at 1, 3, and 6 months, that is, 20.78 (32%), 22.07 (30%), and 19.09 (37%), respectively, in group A and 23.68 (35%), 19.50 (44%), and 19.61 (42%), respectively, in group B, but there was no difference between the groups at all visits. Postoperative need for ocular hypotensive drugs did not differ in group A (P = 0.231); however, it was significantly lower in group B (P = 0.027). Group A had 87%, 77%, and 74% success rates at 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively, whereas group B had 91%, 86%, and 77% success rates at 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively. Postoperative complications and intervention did not reveal any statistical difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: MP-TSCPC may be considered as a temporizing measure both as a primary or as an additional intervention to control the IOP in eyes with refractory and advanced glaucoma that have a high risk of vision-threatening complications with invasive surgery.