Press Release

• Guidelines provide recommendations on the diagnosis and management of glaucoma within the EU
• Nine MicroPulse TLT studies presented at the annual EGS meeting supporting its safety, effectiveness, and versatility in the treatment of glaucoma

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Dec. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IRIDEX Corporation (NASDAQ: IRIX), a provider of innovative ophthalmic laser-based medical products for the treatment of glaucoma and retinal diseases, reports that MicroPulse Transscleral Laser Therapy (TLT), which is performed using the IRIDEX Cyclo G6® Laser System and MicroPulse P3® Delivery Device, has been included in the European Glaucoma Society (EGS) Terminology and Guidelines for Glaucoma. The EGS guidelines represent recommendations on the diagnosis and management of glaucoma to standardize practice within the European Union. The new guidelines, the Society’s 5^th edition, were presented at the Annual EGS Meeting on December 12-13, 2020.

“We are very encouraged with the broadening recognition of MicroPulse TLT in the ophthalmic community,” said David Bruce, CEO, IRIDEX. “Inclusion in the EGS guidelines plus nine papers presented in the Society’s meeting shows the growing adoption of this effective non-incisional therapy for the management of glaucoma disease.”

MicroPulse TLT is a non-incisional procedure that substantially reduces intraocular pressure (IOP) for a broad range of glaucoma types and severity. The procedure can be used for primary open-angle, closed-angle, and refractory glaucoma. It’s a repeatable treatment option that can be performed before, during, or after other glaucoma interventions. More than 140,000 patients have been treated with MicroPulse TLT in top ophthalmic hospitals around the globe.

Also presented at the EGS meeting, were nine MicroPulse TLT studies. These studies were conducted in several countries which exemplify the continued global expansion of MicroPulse TLT. Featured studies included:

• P248: MicroPulse Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation: Step by Step; Rita Basto, et al. (Poland) 
  This study represents a 6-month retrospective review of glaucoma patients (38 eyes) treated with MicroPulse TLT. The percentage of IOP reduction was 43.4 ± 16.2% (8.9% - 70.6%). A success rate (defined as >20% IOP reduction and IOP ≤ 21 mmHg) was obtained in 81.6% of cases with no records of serious complications. The authors concluded that MicroPulse TLT is easily performed, can be repeated with good results, is an efficient and safe strategy to reduce IOP, and can be used in a wide spectrum of glaucoma disease.

• P350: Use of MicroPulse Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation in Glaucoma Associated with Penetrating Keratoplasty or KPRO; Consuelo Gajardo Menzel, et al. (Peru)
  The authors presented 1-year follow-up of MicroPulse TLT in glaucomatous patients with corneal grafts. Patients’ IOP was reduced by an average of 50%, and the authors concluded that MicroPulse TLT in patients with corneal transplants is effective and safe.
  
  
• P359: Microimpulse Cyclophotocoagulation in Combined Neovascular Glaucoma Treatment; Nazir Khodzhaev, et al. (Russia)
  This study evaluated a combined treatment of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) injections and MicroPulse TLT in 15 patients (15 eyes) with secondary neovascular glaucoma (NVG). Initial outcomes demonstrated an IOP reduction of approximately 26%, with a reduction in drops from 3.5 to 2.7, concluding that anti-VEGF and MicroPulse TLT are a safe and effective treatment in NVG patients.
  

• 430: Topical Anesthesia for Diode Transscleral MicroPulse Cyclophototherapy; Maria Cecilia Aquino, et al. (Singapore)
  This study evaluated the use of topical anesthesia and oral paracetamol in a prospective case series of 22 patients receiving MicroPulse TLT. Although a majority of patients experienced moderate pain during treatment, all patients tolerated the entire treatment lasting for 100 seconds without additional peribulbar anesthesia. The post-operative pain in the immediate 24-hours after treatment was unremarkable requiring no oral analgesic medications.
  

Other studies presented:

• P043: MicroPulse Transscleral Laser in Children - The Auckland and Singapore Experience; Marcus Tan, et al. (New Zealand)
• P211: Short-term Efficacy and Safety of MicroPulse Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation in Asian Glaucoma Patients; Mi Sun Sung, et al. (South Korea)
• P226: Mid-Term Results of Micro-Pulse Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation with Diode Laser on Treatment of Glaucoma: A Retrospective Analysis; Guido Barosco et al. (Italy)
• P245: Outcomes of MicroPulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation in Patients with Glaucoma – A Case Series; Wojciech Maruszczyk, et al. (Poland)
• P485: A Modified MicroPulse Transscleral Cyclophototherapy technique for the Treatment of Refractory Glaucoma; Victor Teck Koh, et al. (Singapore)

More information can be found at: www.iridex.com/egs

About IRIDEX
IRIDEX is a worldwide leader in developing innovative and versatile laser-based medical systems, delivery devices and consumable instrumentation for the ophthalmology market. The Company’s proprietary MicroPulse® technology delivers a differentiated treatment that provides safe, effective, and proven treatment for targeted sight-threatening eye conditions. IRIDEX’s current product line is used for the treatment of glaucoma, diabetic macular edema and other retinal diseases. IRIDEX products are sold in the United States and Germany through a direct sales force and in more than 100 countries through a network of independent distributors. For more information, visit www.iridex.com/MicroPulseP3.

Investor Relations Contact
Leigh Salvo
(415) 937-5404
investors@iridex.com

Media Contact
Jamie Hall
Pascale Communications, LLC.
(724) 417-0167
jamie@pascalecommunications.com

Source: IRIDEX Corporation