Ocular decompression devices: liquid mercury balloon vs the tungsten powder balloon.

Purpose: To determine if an intraocular pressure (IOP)-reducing device containing tungsten powder decreases pressure comparably to the traditional mercury-containing apparatus.

Design: Prospective randomized, single-blind, controlled, phase I equivalence study.

Method: At a tertiary care center, both eyes of 24 volunteers with normal IOP were treated with an ocular compression device containing either liquid mercury or tungsten powder.