New Glaucoma Treatment
Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagualtion (ECP) is a new treatment offered to glaucoma patients as an alternative to conventional therapy. Traditionally, glaucoma is managed by eye drops that work to lower the intraocular pressure inside the eye (IOP). While drops are most often effective, they require patient compliance on a long-term basis, can be costly, and may produce unwanted side effects such as ocular surface toxicity. Sometimes, the drops are not enough to control the progressive damage of glaucoma. In these severe cases, there are surgical procedures that can be performed, but they are not without risk and have mixed outcomes.
All methods of glaucoma therapy work to reduce the amount of fluid inside the eye. This fluid is produced by the eye’s ciliary body. ECP uses light endoscopy to guide laser application to the ciliary body of the eye, thus reducing fluid production. The endoscope’s handpiece is so small (0.89 mm) that it can be inserted through an incision tiny enough that stitches are not required. ECP can be combined with other eye procedures or can be done alone It is often combined with cataract surgery and extends the surgery time by two to five minutes. When ECP is performed alone, the procedure takes approximately five to ten minutes. Post-operative recovery is similar to that of cataract surgery the patient will be examined at one day, one week, and one month after surgery.
Unlike traditional glaucoma treatment, ECP produces reliable, long-term results with few if any undesirable side effects, minimal pain, and little or no danger to the patient’s vision. In approximately 60% of cases, patients are able to discontinue their drops altogether. Of the remaining cases, 80% have been able to reduce the number of medications required to control the glaucoma. This decrease in medication can be of huge financial benefit to the patient, as they are often quite expensive. Also of financial benefit to the patient is the approval of ECP for reimbursement by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance agencies.
Any person with glaucoma can be treated with ECP, but the prime candidates are those with primary open angle glaucoma or with glaucoma that is well controlled by medication. Call for a consultation to see if ECP is the right choice for you.