Biotissue stent for supraciliary outflow in open-angle glaucoma patients: surgical procedure and first clinical results of an aqueous drainage biostent

Background/aimsTo report a first-in-human trial in open-angle glaucoma (OAG) subjects treated with a new microinterventional biostent-reinforced cyclodialysis technique to enhance supraciliary aqueous drainage. MethodsSubjects (N=10; 74.1 +/- 7.9 years old) with OAG and cataracts underwent combined phacoemulsification cataract surgery with implantation of a permanent endoscleral supraciliary biostent to reinforce a controlled cyclodialysis cleft. The biostent comprised decellularised scleral allograft tissue microtrephined into a polymer tubular implant intraoperative/postoperative safety, intraocular pressure (IOP) and glaucoma medications were tracked through 12 months postimplantation. ResultsBaseline medicated IOP averaged 24.2 +/- 6.9 mm Hg with subjects using 1.3 +/- 0.8 IOP-lowering medications. Successful biostent implantation was achieved in all individuals without significant complications. Immediate IOP lowering was sustained through 1 year. Twelve-month mean IOP was reduced 40% from baseline to 14.6 +/- 3.2 mm Hg (p=0.004; paired two-tailed t-test), and 80% of patients achieved >20% IOP reduction. Biostenting reduced glaucoma medication use 62%, from a baseline mean of 1.3 required medications to 0.5 medications (p=0.037) at postoperative 12 months. The biotissue implant was well tolerated and demonstrated good endothelial safety with only 11% endothelial cell loss at 12 months after combined phaco-biostenting surgery, similar to that expected after phacoemulsification alone. Mean BCVA increased from baseline 20/130 Snellen to 20/36 at postoperative 12 months (p=0.001). ConclusionSupraciliary biostenting in OAG patients is well tolerated, has a good safety profile and produces long-term IOP-lowering while reducing glaucoma medication requirements.