# Short term clinical outcomes of the combined eyeWatch™ implant and eyePlate in refractory glaucoma—a United Kingdom dual centre study

## TL;DR

A new glaucoma treatment using the eyeWatch™ system effectively lowers eye pressure and reduces medication use in patients with difficult-to-treat glaucoma.

## Contribution

The study evaluates the 12-month safety and efficacy of the novel eyeWatch™ system in managing refractory glaucoma.

## Key findings

- Mean intraocular pressure decreased significantly from 24.4 mmHg to 13.2 mmHg after 12 months.
- Over 47% of patients achieved complete success without needing glaucoma medications.
- Visual acuity remained stable, and anti-glaucoma medication use dropped significantly.

## Abstract

The eyeWatch™ implant is a novel glaucoma drainage device allowing for a titratable aqueous humour outflow via an external magnetic control unit, facilitating a more controlled reduction in intraocular pressure. We report on 12 month outcomes evaluating the safety and efficacy of eyeWatch™ implant combined with an eyePlate (eyeWatch™ system) in refractory glaucoma.

Prospective study including patients aged 18 years or older with refractory primary open angle, pigmentary or pseudoexfoliative glaucomas with elevated intraocular pressures > 20 mmHg and previous failed filtration surgery were included. Patients underwent implantation of the eyeWatch™ system. Outcomes were analysed post operatively on 1 day, 1 week, 2 week, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after surgery. Main outcome measures were intraocular pressure reduction by ≥ 20% or intraocular pressure < 21 mmHg and no intraocular pressure < 6 mmHg on two consecutive visits after 12 months. Secondary outcomes were mean visual acuity, intraocular pressure and anti-glaucoma medications usage.

Twenty-seven patients were enrolled with a mean age of 68.9 ± 9.5 years. At 12 months, mean reduction of IOP was from 24.4 ± 5.2 mmHg at baseline to 13.2 ± 4.8 mmHg (p < 0.01). The number of anti-glaucoma medications significantly decreased from 3.1 ± 0.7 (baseline) to 1.1 ± 1.1 (p < 0.01). Visual acuity remained stable for almost all patients from 0.37 ± 0.32 to 0.39 ± 0.26 (logMAR). Complete success rate (intraocular pressure within defined range without glaucoma medications) was 47% and overall success rate was 93%.

The eyeWatch™ system allows for peri and postoperative non-invasive adjustments to resistance of aqueous humour outflow. At 12 months the majority of patients experienced adequate intraocular pressure control, with over 47% not requiring anti-glaucoma medications.