Sight Sciences OMNI System Gains UnitedHealthcare Coverage as Meta-Analysis Confirms Long-Term Efficacy in Glaucoma Treatment
Key Insights
UnitedHealthcare (search) updated its policy to cover OMNI Surgical System procedures for mild to moderate open-angle glaucoma treatment, effective October 1, 2025, covering approximately 30 million patients.
A comprehensive meta-analysis of 2,379 eyes demonstrated that OMNI achieves treatment success in approximately 89% of patients with sustained IOP reductions and medication-free outcomes in 66-68% of cases.
The study confirmed OMNI's cost-effectiveness compared to market leader iStent inject (search), with superior quality-adjusted life years and favorable adverse event profile.
UnitedHealthcare (search) has expanded coverage for Sight Sciences' OMNI Surgical System, marking a significant milestone for minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) procedures. The insurance giant updated its Glaucoma Surgical Treatments policy to cover goniotomy, trabeculotomy, canaloplasty (ab interno), and combined procedures for adults with mild to moderate open-angle glaucoma when deemed medically necessary.
The coverage policy, effective October 1, 2025, applies to UnitedHealthcare (search)'s commercial and individual exchange benefit plans, covering approximately 30 million of the over 50 million total covered lives under UHC. This decision comes as new clinical evidence reinforces OMNI's therapeutic value in glaucoma management.
Meta-Analysis Demonstrates Superior Long-Term Outcomes
A systematic literature review and meta-analysis published in the European Journal of Ophthalmology provides compelling evidence for OMNI's clinical effectiveness. The comprehensive study, led by Obeda Kailani from King's College Hospital London, analyzed 29 publications based on 22 unique studies encompassing 2,379 eyes.
The analysis revealed that treatment success, defined as IOP reduction ≥20% from baseline, was observed in approximately 89% of patients treated with either standalone or combined treatments after 6, 12, and 24 months. Additionally, approximately 66-68% of patients remained medication-free at 6 and 12 months following treatment.
"The favorable safety and efficacy profile demonstrated in our meta-analysis reinforces how OMNI is a beneficial treatment option for patients with primary open-angle glaucoma," said Kailani. "The durability of OMNI will help postpone or limit the need for more invasive prospective treatments."
Sustained Pressure Reduction Across Patient Populations
The meta-analysis confirmed OMNI's ability to achieve clinically meaningful IOP reductions across different patient populations. For patients with baseline IOP ≥18 mmHg, mean IOP reduction ranged from 6.4 to 10.0 mmHg at 12 months following combination and standalone surgery. Even patients with lower baseline pressures (<18 mmHg) experienced a statistically significant mean IOP reduction of 1.3 mmHg at 12 months.
OMNI significantly reduced IOP to below 18 mmHg at 12 months when used in combination with cataract surgery, with ranges of 11.5 to 17.2 mmHg for patients with baseline IOP ≥18 mmHg and 12.8 to 15.4 mmHg for those with baseline IOP <18 mmHg. These improvements were sustained at 24 months.
The procedure also demonstrated substantial reductions in medication burden. Average IOP-lowering medication use decreased from a baseline range of 0.9 to 3.4 medications to 0.1 to 2.2 medications at month 12 for both standalone and combination treatments.
Economic Advantages Over Market Leader
Economic analyses within the meta-analysis indicate OMNI is cost-effective compared to iStent inject (search), the current market leader. The cost-utility analysis incorporated quality of life outcomes through quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), showing OMNI achieved 8.95 QALYs per patient over a lifetime horizon compared to 8.93 for iStent inject.
Over a two-year period, OMNI generated 1.59 QALYs per patient versus 1.58 for iStent inject (search). The slightly higher QALYs for OMNI were attributed to its favorable adverse event profile, with the study noting that adverse events were generally mild and transient.
Technology and Procedure Details
The OMNI Surgical System is FDA-cleared and indicated for canaloplasty followed by trabeculotomy to reduce intraocular pressure in adult patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. The procedure can be performed before, in combination with, or after cataract surgery.
OMNI enables an implant-free, ab interno minimally invasive glaucoma surgery procedure intended to restore aqueous outflow by addressing the three areas of outflow resistance associated with glaucoma. This approach differentiates it from other MIGS procedures that may require permanent implants.
Company Performance and Outlook
The positive developments align with Sight Sciences' strengthening financial performance. The company reported a second-quarter loss of 23 cents per share, beating the consensus estimate of a 29-cent loss. Sales reached $19.56 million, exceeding the consensus of $18.18 million.
Based on these results, Sight Sciences raised its fiscal 2025 sales guidance from $70-75 million to $72-76 million, compared to the consensus estimate of $72.43 million.
"We are pleased that UHC's clinical review resulted in expanded coverage for implant-free, minimally invasive glaucoma surgery procedures, including OMNI, which is an important part of the glaucoma treatment paradigm," said Paul Badawi, Co-Founder and CEO of Sight Sciences.
The meta-analysis findings were presented at the European Society Of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, further disseminating the clinical evidence supporting OMNI's use in glaucoma management.