Key Takeaways

  • A large US registry study found only 12.2% of patients underwent a glaucoma procedure during an 18- to 36-month observation period

  • The Newton Registry provides a baseline for tracking interventional glaucoma adoption and evaluating treatment patterns in US practices

A large US registry study found that only 12.2% of patients with glaucoma underwent a procedural intervention during an 18- to 36-month observation period, while 56.3% experienced a lapse in glaucoma care exceeding 12 months.

The findings, published October 16, 2026, in Ophthalmology and Therapy, highlight gaps in glaucoma management and provide a baseline for evaluating adoption of interventional glaucoma treatments.1

The study analyzed 724,728 patient encounters involving 157,246 patients and 605 providers across 35 nonacademic ophthalmology practices in the United States. Data were collected between January 2022 and November 2025. Most patients had open-angle glaucoma (82.1%), while 10.5% were classified as glaucoma suspects. Disease severity was categorized as mild in 51.8% of patients, moderate in 13.5%, and severe in 17.8%.

Among glaucoma procedures performed, selective laser trabeculoplasty accounted for the largest proportion (44.4%), followed by stent implantation (25.7%), canaloplasty (12.3%), and goniotomy (12.1%). Traditional filtering procedures were performed less frequently.

The mean follow-up duration was 15.4 months, with more than half of patients experiencing a gap in care exceeding 1 year at their participating practice.

The investigators noted that procedural treatment remained relatively uncommon even among practices that had expressed interest in interventional glaucoma management.

The Newton Registry, established and owned by Glaukos, was developed to characterize real-world treatment patterns and track the adoption of procedural approaches intended to reduce reliance on daily topical medications.

Study limitations included nonrandom practice selection, variable observation periods, and the inability to capture care received outside participating practices. 

The authors concluded that the registry could serve as a benchmark for monitoring changes in interventional glaucoma practice and identifying opportunities to improve continuity of care.

Reference

1. Williams AM, Coleman AL, Stagg B, et al. Characterizing the modern interventional glaucoma treatment paradigm: the Newton Registry. Ophthalmol Ther. Published online October 16, 2026. doi:10.1007/s40123-026-01524-9