Trans-scleral cyclophotocoagulation: a tale of two probes

Abstract

To compare the histological effects of trans-scleral cyclophotocoagulation (TCP) performed with two different probes, the G-probe (IRIDEX Medical Instruments, Mountain View, CA, USA) and the Ciliprobe (Katalyst Surgical, Chesterfield, MO, USA). TCP was performed on two human cadaver eyes from the same corpse. The vertical meridian was marked and opposite sides were treated using either the G-probe or Ciliprobe. The first eye was treated with each probe at 2000ms/2000 mW and the second eye at 3000ms/1500 mW. Histological examination revealed separation and loss of the non-pigmented ciliary epithelium as well as vacuolization in all sections for both probes and settings. Changes to the non-pigmented ciliary epithelium treated at 3000ms/1500 mW were similar between the two probes. A slightly more complete separation of the non-pigmented epithelium was noted on the Ciliprobe treated sections as compared to the G-probe treated sections in the eye treated at 2000ms/2000 mW. Therefore, in human cadaver eyes, both the G-probe and Ciliprobe produced separation, vacuolization, and loss of the non-pigmented ciliary epithelium at two different, clinically utilized settings.

Keywords

• trans-scleral cyclophotocoagulation
• g-probe
• ciliprobe