AimThe aim of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of a new surgical procedure termed sclerothalamotomyab interno(STTab interno) for the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma and juvenile glaucoma.Aim and Methods58 non penetrating glaucoma procedures called “sclerothalamotomiesab interno” were performed with radiofrequency in 53 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and 5 patients with juvenile glaucoma between April 2002 and June 2003. The average preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) in the 53 primary open-angle glaucoma respectively 5 juvenile glaucoma patients was 25.6 ± 2.3 mmHg respectively 41.0 ± 6.4 mmHg. The sclerothalamotomiesab internowere carried out with a custom made high-frequency dissection 19G probe (tip 0.3 × 1 mm) applying bipolar current with a frequency of 500 kHz.DiscussionAfter a follow-up period of 48 months, the average IOP dropped to 14.6 ± 1.7 mmHg respectively to 12.0 ± 2.6 mmHg, an outcome which is in both groups statistically (p < 0.005) highly significant. Transient IOP elevation was observed in 12 eyes (22.6%) of primary open-angle glaucoma and no case in juvenile glaucoma. In all cases, these IOP spikes were controlled by a temporary re-institution of topical glaucoma medical therapy. There were no serious complications related to the procedure.ConclusionSclerothalamotomyab internois a minimally invasive, safe and efficacious surgical technique for lowering IOP in open-angle and juvenile glaucoma.