Abstract: In recent years, CO2 laser assisted deep scleral incision (CLASS) has been widely used in treatment of glaucoma because of its advantages of minimally invasive, simple operation and less complications. CLASS surgery is an improvement of traditional non penetrating filtering surgery (NPTS). With the assistance of CO2 laser, the risks and difficulties of traditional NPTS operation has been greatly reduced. Although CLASS surgery is not superior to traditional trabeculectomy in reducing intraocular pressure, it is superior to trabeculectomy in the incidence of early postoperative complications, the protection of corneal endothelium, and the operability of reoperation. At the same time, CLASS surgery can be combined with other surgical methods, providing new ideas and theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of glaucoma. (Int Rev Ophthalmol, 2021, 45: 290-295)

Key words: glaucoma, non penetrating filtering surgery, CO2 laser assisted deep scleral incision