iStent: a new treatment for glaucoma
If you have glaucoma and cataracts, iStent is designed to improve your eye’s natural fluid outflow to safely lower eye pressure by creating a permanent opening in the trabecular meshwork. Proven safe and effective, the iStent Trabecular Micro-Bypass is a surgical therapy that:
- Is safely implanted during cataract surgery
- Spares important eye tissue that is often damaged by traditional surgeries
- Does not limit treatment options that could help maintain your vision in the future
iStent is the smallest medical device ever approved by the FDA and is placed in your eye during cataract surgery. It is so small, you won’t be able to see or feel it after the procedure is over. By creating a permanent opening in your trabecular meshwork, iStent is designed to improve the outflow of fluid from your eyes and help control eye pressure.
How can iStent help me?
Every day, you are probably taking one or more eye drops to control your eye pressure. By improving the outflow of fluid from your eyes, iStent works to help control your eye pressure. After implantation of iStent, many patients are able to control their eye pressure.
Controlling eye pressure is extremely important to reduce the risk for vision loss due to glaucoma. If you forget to take your eye drops or ‘skip a dose’, this can cause large changes in your eye pressure. Large changes in eye pressure can increases the risk for vision loss. If you have both glaucoma and cataracts, ask your eye doctor if iStent is right for you.
iStent | How it Works
Glaucoma is normally associated with increased fluid pressure in the eye. The primary cause of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma is a blockage of the trabecular meshwork; a sponge-like tissue located near the cornea and iris through which aqueous humor passes to Schlemm’s canal and into the bloodstream.
iStent:
- Creates a permanent opening in your trabecular meshwork
- Improves your eye’s natural fluid outflow to safely lower IOP
- Works continuously to improve the outflow of fluid from your eyes
- Improves outflow with a single bypass
Content taken from glaukos.com