Smallest FDA-Approved Medical Device Now Available for Patients with Cataracts and Glaucoma
Hastings, Ionia, Lowell, Michigan 1-9-18 Eye surgeon and Ophthalmologist Dr. Michael Flohr & Dr. David Harrell of Advanced Eyecare Professionals announced that they are providing the iStent® Trabecular Micro-Bypass Stent as a treatment option to reduce eye pressure for patients with both cataracts and glaucoma.
The iStent is FDA-approved for use in conjunction with cataract surgery to reduce eye pressure in adult patients with mild-to-moderate open-angle glaucoma currently being treated with glaucoma medicine. In clinical trials, iStent has been shown to safely reduce eye pressure, which is the primary cause of open-angle glaucoma.
“This is great news for people who have both a cataract and glaucoma,” says Dr. Flohr The eye drops used to treat glaucoma can be difficult to administer and expensive. With iStent, many patients will need less medicine to control their eye pressure and some may not need prescription eye drops at all.”
iStent is the smallest medical device ever approved by the FDA and is placed in a patient’s eye during cataract surgery. Dr. Flohr & Dr Harrell went on to say, “It is so small you are unable to see or feel it after the procedure is done. Although you won’t even know iStent is there, it will be working to help reduce your eye pressure.” Implanting the iStent does not significantly extend the length of time the patient spends in surgery and has a similar safety profile to cataract surgery alone.
Studies have shown that more than 90% of patients do not comply with their ocular medication dosing regimens and nearly 50% discontinue taking their medications before 6 months. Both Dr Flohr and Dr Harrell cautions that, “This can be a serious problem. When pressure in the eye is out of control, it can increase the risk for permanent vision loss. We consider iStent an important advancement in protecting against vision loss for our glaucoma patients.” For more information visit AEPeyecare.com
Glaukos Corporation is a privately held ophthalmic company located in Laguna Hills, California, that is dedicated to researching and developing microtechnologies to improve glaucoma therapy. The company has developed the iStent Trabecular Micro-Bypass Stent, which is intended to improve natural physiological aqueous outflow and reduce intraocular pressure in open-angle glaucoma patients.
Glaucoma iStent Consent Form – Click to download and print
For more information on iStent please follow the link to Glaukos website.
