ViaLase has announced the first commercial cases of its femtosecond laser image-guided high-precision trabeculotomy (FLIGHT) procedure, marking a significant milestone in the commercialization of non-incisional glaucoma surgery in Europe.
The inaugural procedures were performed at Centre for Sight in London by Sheraz Daya and Gus Gazzard, and at Breyer, Kaymak & Klabe Augenchirurgie in Düsseldorf by Karsten Klabe. The treatments used the company’s ViaLuxe Laser System, which combines OCT imaging with femtosecond laser technology to create micron-precision channels through the trabecular meshwork, restoring aqueous outflow and lowering intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma.
ViaLase positions FLIGHT as a minimally invasive, image-guided alternative that avoids opening the eye – a distinction the company believes could shift glaucoma intervention earlier in the disease continuum.
“Centre for Sight has always been committed to bringing meaningful innovation to patients through technologies that advance precision, safety, and the overall treatment experience,” said Sheraz Daya, Medical Director and Founder of Centre for Sight. “We are proud to be the first center globally to introduce the FLIGHT procedure, marking a redefinition of glaucoma care.”
Professor Gus Gazzard, Director of Surgery at Moorfields Eye Hospital and Professor of Ophthalmology at UCL, highlighted the platform’s precision and visualization capabilities. “The ability to deliver a precise, image-guided femtosecond laser treatment without the need to open the eye represents a compelling advancement in glaucoma therapy,” he said.
Karsten Klabe, meanwhile, described the technology as addressing a clear unmet need for incision-free glaucoma treatment options that can be introduced earlier in disease management. “It is a privilege to be the first center in Germany to bring the FLIGHT procedure into clinical practice,” he added.
The commercial launch represents an important step for ViaLase, which remains investigational in the United States but is now commercialized in Europe. The company said it is supporting the rollout through a network of European distributor partners, including an exclusive agreement with Carleton Optical in the UK.
Source: BusinessWire.
