Cilio-scleral interposition (CID):
a new class of implant for treating glaucoma

CID: The first implant in glaucoma surgery that leaves the anterior chamber untouched

Discover CID (Cilio-Scleral Inter-positioning Device), the first implant to effectively reduce IntraOcular Pressure (IOP) without penetrating the anterior chamber or creating subconjunctival filtration – critical measures that overcome the most serious complications and shortcomings of other glaucoma surgical techniques. 

CID reduces IOP with long-lasting effect, offering very good safety “by design”

In contrast to other treatments, a CID is uniquely positioned between only two areas of the eye – between the ciliary body and the sclera. This offers the unparalleled advantage of unlocking the natural uveoscleral pathway while leaving the anterior chamber fully intact, along with the wall that separates it from the supraciliary space. It enhances the eye’s natural capacity to drain the ocular aqueous humor from the anterior chamber into physiological channels.

Key benefits

An implant design in a class by itself

Ciliatech’s implant is a cilio-scleral inter-positioning device made of hydrophilic hydrogel; a biocompatible material used in intraocular lenses. This material is foldable, so that the implant, which has a plate-like format measuring 6*4*0.2 mm, can be squeezed to pass through small incisions. Once in situ, it will conform to the anatomy of its placement without excessive mechanical resistance or pressure on the surrounding tissues.

CID’s plate-like format enables the separation of two ocular tissues (the sclera and the ciliary muscle) that in normal conditions are in contact and not physiologically separated.

CID is an ab externo implantation. By embedding the inter-positioning device only between the sclera and the ciliary muscle, it:

Achieving the best clinical results - up to 24 months

CID was tested in 42 patients and two clinical studies (SAFARI 1 involving 20 patients and one device, version V13; SAFARI 2 involving 22 patients and two devices; version V13).

At 12 months, both studies showed consistent results (n=30). Average IOP dropped by more than 35%, while at the same time the need for medication dropped by more than 90%, and 87% of patients were free of using eye drops. No patient had to undergo additional intervention. The safety profile appeared to be very good with almost no complications reported, not even mild ones.

At 24 months, patients of the 1st study (n=14) showed stable IOP (15,6 mmHg). IOP drops by 33% and medications by 85%. Still 86% of the patients are free of medications. Overall safety appeared to be very good, and no patient had to undergo additional adjunctive treatment nor IOP-lowering surgery.

This is first proof ever that an implant can significantly reduce the IOP while leaving the anterior chamber untouched, up to 24M.

SAFARI1 and SAFARI2 combined results

Groundbreaking procedure, trusted by surgeons

Surgeons have responded enthusiastically about the speed and safety of CID surgery and its patient-friendly procedure.

“A CID surgery is very simple, safe and short to perform. It is minimally invasive, very gentle and the learning curve is fast. But most importantly,  the anterior chamber is preserved, so that the cornea is not exposed and the eye is very calm in the post-op period, with no bleb and no pain for the patient. And this without saying that the IOP results are also very good and sustained in the long run”

Dr L. Voskanyan MD PhD
Head of Glaucoma department, S.V. Malayan’s Eye Center
Chief of Ophthalmology at Yerevan State Medical university

Everyone benefits from CID

As the disease is put under control over the long-term, the need for eye drops is markedly reduced, significantly improving patient quality of life

Patients with altered corneal endothelium can be treated safely with CID

Surgeons have an alternative to treating glaucoma safely, efficiently and sustainably, with complete respect of the eye’s natural anatomy and physiology, with no iatrogenic risks and no loss of chance for the patient

Team Leaders

Ophthalmic surgeon and inventor Dr. Philippe Sourdille, and Olivier Benoit, a veteran engineer and biotech entrepreneur, created Ciliatech in 2017 to develop a new treatment for glaucoma with optimized performance outcomes for both surgeon and patient. They  produced CID (Cilio-Scleral Inter-positioning Device), a new class of implant to create a long-lasting channel for aqueous humour drainage out of the eye. 

Dr. Philippe SOURDILLE

Co-founder and Medical Director

Olivier BENOIT

Co-founder and CEO