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East Hospital’s research findings and successful glaucoma treatment approach highlighted at the World Glaucoma Congress
At the World Glaucoma Congress in the United States of America (USA), research findings on the treatment of glaucoma patients at the East Hospital were presented with distinction, earning recognition from foreign colleagues. Already 34 patients have been treated successfully at the East Hospital so far, using an innovative and minimally invasive method – micropulse cyclophotocoagulation.
At the World Glaucoma Congress 2025, the East Hospital was represented by Elīza Briede, an ophthalmologist at the Ophthalmology Clinic. She presented the findings of research conducted at the East Hospital’s Ophthalmology Clinic and shared the treatment experience and outcomes related to the use and impact of the micropulse cyclophotocoagulation method on the eye’s microvascular tissues, specifically, the efficacy of micropulse cyclophotocoagulation in silicone oil-induced secondary glaucoma.
Micropulse cyclophotocoagulation is a laser-based treatment that applies pulsed energy to the ciliary body – the structure responsible for producing intraocular fluid – without damaging it, to gently reduce fluid production, thereby preventing an increase in intraocular pressure.
The treatment outcomes were presented to foreign colleagues, highlighting the effective use of this non-invasive procedure – micropulse cyclophotocoagulation – in patients with secondary glaucoma following a vitrectomy. Ophthalmologist Elīza Briede shared data and findings, noting that a total of 34 patients have already been treated using this innovative method at the East Hospital’s Ophthalmology Clinic. It has resulted in an average intraocular pressure reduction of 33%.
However, in Latvia, micropulse cyclophotocoagulation is currently performed only at the East Hospital’s Ophthalmology Clinic. Laser-based surgical treatment allows to effectively reduce intraocular pressure in patients with early-stage glaucoma and can also be successfully used to maintain compensated intraocular pressure for as long as possible, thereby postponing the need for invasive surgery.
In cases of secondary glaucoma, micropulse cyclophotocoagulation offers a non-invasive option for reducing intraocular pressure, which is often difficult to manage using traditional trabeculectomy (a surgical method for treating glaucoma that facilitates intraocular fluid drainage) due to the presence of silicone oil in the eye.
“Vitrectomy with silicone oil injection is used in cases of retinal detachment to hold the retina in place. Over time, silicone oil in the eye may emulsify, i.e., become cloudy, and lead to elevated intraocular pressure, which is the underlying cause of secondary glaucoma. In such cases, the silicone oil is either removed or replaced, provided it has remained in the eye for at least six months. Nevertheless, elevated eye pressure often persists even after these surgeries. However, in clinical practice, statistically significant evidence has confirmed that the micropulse cyclophotocoagulation method is highly effective in reducing intraocular pressure in eyes,” explains Associate Professor Kristīne Baumane, Head of the East Hospital’s Ophthalmology Clinic.
The treatment experience gained by Elīza Briede, the ophthalmologist at the East Hospital’s Ophthalmology Clinic, including the findings of her research which she shared at the World Glaucoma Congress when presenting the use of micropulse cyclophotocoagulation in treating patients in Latvia, sparked significant interest among international colleagues. And rightly so, given that the topic is currently highly relevant, and this approach offers patients minimally invasive and effective treatment options.
The East Hospital’s Ophthalmology Clinic operates at the Biķernieki inpatient facility, specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of ophthalmological diseases and providing emergency ophthalmologic care 24/7, both in the outpatient eye trauma unit and in the inpatient facility. The clinic has undergone rapid development, introducing new diagnostic and treatment methods in practice, performing cataract, glaucoma, and retinal surgeries using the latest technologies, as well as diagnosing and treating intraocular tumours and conducting other ophthalmologic surgeries and procedures. The European Society of Ophthalmology has awarded the clinic a certificate confirming its compliance with the highest European standards. The clinic also conducts clinical research in eye diseases, contributing to the improvement of patient care.
About the East Hospital
Riga East Clinical University Hospital is the largest and strategically significant multi-profile hospital in the country. The hospital consists of five inpatient facilities – Gaiļezers, Latvian Oncology Centre, Biķernieki, Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Centre, and Latvian Infectious Diseases Centre, along with various specialised centres and clinics. The hospital provides highly specialised inpatient and secondary outpatient healthcare, offering multidisciplinary tertiary-level treatment and care in line with modern technology and medical knowledge. Approximately 80% of all cancer patients in Latvia are treated at the hospital. It serves as a practical training base for both Latvian educational institutions and foreign students, providing further education and knowledge transfer to healthcare specialists within and beyond the country. The hospital engages in scientific research and develops innovative methods for patient treatment. As the third-largest employer in the country, the hospital employs around 5000 staff members.
