Ultrathin VisiPlate Shunt Achieves 40% IOP Reduction in Glaucoma Trial

Overview

The VisiPlate ultrathin subconjunctival aqueous shunt demonstrated a 40% mean reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP) and significant medication reduction at 6 months in patients with open-angle glaucoma. The device showed a favorable safety profile with no serious adverse events reported in the interim 6-month data from the VITA trial.

Background

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness, often managed by lowering intraocular pressure through medications or surgical interventions. Traditional filtration surgeries can result in elevated blebs causing patient discomfort and complications. The VisiPlate device is a novel, ultrathin, multichannel shunt designed to create a diffuse bleb with reduced biomechanical stress and improved patient comfort. The VITA trial is a 12-month prospective study evaluating the efficacy and safety of this device in patients with open-angle glaucoma without prior filtration surgeries.

Data Highlights

Key Findings

• The VisiPlate shunt achieved a 40% mean reduction in IOP at 6 months post-implantation.
• Medication use decreased significantly from an average of 2.0 to 0.8 medications per patient.
• 78% of patients experienced more than a 20% IOP reduction on the same or fewer medications.
• The device demonstrated a favorable safety profile with no serious adverse events, including no choroidal effusions, loss of light perception, or persistent hypotony.
• The ultrathin (5 µm) alumina and parylene-C coated device creates a diffuse, shallow bleb via multiple outflow channels, improving patient comfort compared to traditional single-lumen stents.
• The implantation procedure was reported to be easier and faster than standard trabeculectomy by experienced surgeons.

Clinical Implications

The VisiPlate shunt offers a promising new surgical option for patients with open-angle glaucoma, providing substantial IOP and medication reductions with a low complication risk. Its ultrathin design and multichannel outflow may improve bleb morphology and patient comfort, potentially enhancing long-term outcomes. Clinicians may consider this device as an alternative to traditional filtration surgeries pending further FDA-approved trials.

Conclusion

Interim results from the VITA trial suggest that the VisiPlate ultrathin shunt is an effective and safe treatment for lowering IOP in open-angle glaucoma, with advantages in bleb formation and procedural ease. Ongoing studies will clarify its role in glaucoma management.

References

1. Miller-Ellis et al. 2025 -- Ultrathin VisiPlate Shunt Shows Promising Results in Glaucoma Trial