Laser Glaucoma Surgery Cuts Eye Pressure 28%
A 48-month study of a femtosecond laser glaucoma procedure reports sustained intraocular pressure reduction and stable drainage channels.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Stroke
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A small first-in-human study of 12 glaucoma patients found that femtosecond laser image-guided trabeculotomy reduced intraocular pressure by 28% at 48 months. The ViaLase system has also become commercially available in the European Union and United Kingdom.
Why it matters
The results suggest a single laser-created drainage channel may hold pressure down over the long term, which could offer an office-based alternative for patients needing fewer daily eye drops. The sample is small, so the durability findings remain preliminary.
The evidence comes from a first-in-human study of 12 patients covering 18 eyes, with a 28% drop in intraocular pressure and average daily eye drops falling from 2.1 to 1.8 over 48 months. Larger controlled trials and longer follow-up are needed to confirm durability.
The players
Nagy
Leader of the team at Semmelweis University that conducted the femtosecond laser glaucoma study and has performed more than 150 procedures.
Semmelweis University
Hungarian university in Budapest where the first-in-human femtosecond laser glaucoma trial was conducted.
The details
Using a ViaLuxe femtosecond laser, the procedure creates a drainage channel in the trabecular meshwork of about 200 µm × 500 µm × 400 µm in roughly 20 seconds, performed in an office under topical anesthesia. The study was conducted at Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary, and the team led by Nagy has performed more than 150 procedures.
Timeline
48 months: follow-up period showing the sustained 28% pressure reduction and stable incisions.
End of this year: hoped-for FDA approval of the ViaLase system.
Health Landscape
The ViaLase femtosecond laser extends the lineage of laser-based glaucoma treatment toward minimally invasive, office-performed surgery. Its 48-month data adds durability evidence to a field that has historically relied on drops and traditional surgical incisions.
For patients with glaucoma who depend on multiple daily eye drops, a single office-based laser procedure could reduce medication burden if long-term results hold. Those considering treatment should discuss candidacy with an eye specialist, as the procedure is not yet approved in the United States.
The takeaway
Patients whose glaucoma is not fully controlled with drops may want to ask their eye doctor whether newer laser options are appropriate for them. Durability beyond four years and wider availability remain key questions to watch.
What happens next
The hoped-for FDA approval of the ViaLase system is expected by the end of this year.
Further reading
For more on related treatments, see the Stroke section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Healio.
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