Early Experience With The Eyewatch/Eyetube System: A Case Series

In this case series we evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel, pre-market-release, fenestrated-tube innovation for plate-free aqueous shunt surgery.

Colchester Eye Centre, Colchester, United Kingdom

We present a series of five patients receiving the eyeWatch/eyeTube (Rheon Medical, Lausanne, Switzerland) tube system for advanced glaucoma. Cases were operated in Colchester Eye Centre between 11/2022-7/2023 by a single experienced surgeon. Follow-up ranged between 4-12 months.

Five patients were included. Three of them had neovascular glaucoma, one had acute angle closure glaucoma and the last had progressing primary open angle glaucoma. First case had intraocular pressure (IOP) of 33 mmHg on 4 medications preoperatively and this was reduced to 13 mmHg on no medications (6 months). Second case had preoperative IOP of 39 mmHg on no medications and this was reduced to 16 mmHg drop-free (12 months). Third case had IOP of 45 mmHg on 3 agents and 22 mmHg drop-free (6 months). Fourth case had IOP of 22 mmHg on 2 medications and 11 mmHg unmedicated (4 months). The last case’s IOP was 69 mmHg on two medications and this was reduced to 26 mmHg drop-free (3 months). No  severe or sight threatening adverse events occured.

EyeWatch/eyeTube system shows promising outcomes. Longer term and larger studies are needed to provide robust evidence.