Dr Romero has a vast experience with iStent (Glaukos Corp), one of the first devices approved in the US for the surgical treatment of mild to moderate glaucoma in combination with cataract surgery. This surgical treatment falls into the category of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). The iStent is a heparin-coated titanium stent that creates one (iStent) or two (iStent Inject) bypass pathways through the trabecular meshwork allowing a decrease in the intraocular pressure (IOP). It is inserted into the eye through a preloaded injector through the same incisions made for the cataract surgery.
Her experience matches published research results showing that implantation of the stents gives a 43% reduction of the IOP at up to 36 months follow-up.
The device has a validated safety profile, and the post-operative course for the patient is the same as regular cataract surgery. It is covered by all health insurances.
One question that her patients often ask is if after they have the iStents implanted will that prevent them from having diagnostic imaging like MRI which utilizes a strong magnetic field or whether airport security systems are compatible with it. As with many prosthetic implants, there are no problems in these situations with the iStent.
Three things to know about iStent Inject
- It decreases the amount of eyedrops used to manage glaucoma.
- It has a strong safety profile and is minimally disruptive to the tissues of the eye.
- The iStent is the smallest device FDA approved to be implanted in the human body.
