Preliminary study on the treatment of acute angle- closure glaucoma with high-intensity focused ultrasound cycloplasty

The preprint operates within the dominant paradigm of ophthalmology, specifically glaucoma management. It seeks to refine existing treatment strategies for acute angle-closure glaucoma (AACG).

This research investigates the application of high-intensity focused ultrasound cycloplasty (UCP) for AACG, a relatively novel technique within the existing paradigm. The study presents a retrospective analysis of UCP's efficacy and safety in a small cohort of AACG patients. While the results are promising, demonstrating IOP reduction and potential mechanisms for its effect, the study acknowledges limitations due to the small sample size. Therefore, the research resides primarily in the "Normal Science" stage, working within the accepted paradigm. However, the exploration of UCP's unique mechanism and its potential to address limitations of current AACG treatments suggests a subtle "Model Drift." The proposed mechanism involving ciliary body changes and lens repositioning adds nuance to the existing understanding of UCP's effects, potentially leading to further refinement of glaucoma treatment models. More research is needed to fully understand the implications of these findings, but they represent a potential shift in the existing model within the broader paradigm.