New Medical Device Now Available for Patients with Cataracts and Glaucoma

BRECKSVILLE, Ohio, Dec. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Eye surgeons, Dr. William Wiley and Dr. Shamik Bafna of Cleveland Eye Clinic 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 used 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. Wiley.  "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 placed in a patient's eye during cataract surgery. Dr. Bafna went on to say, "It's 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 medications dosing regimens and nearly 50% discontinue taking their medications before 6 months.  Dr. Bafna 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. I consider iStent an important advancement in protecting against vision loss for my glaucoma patients."

Michelle Laramee
Cell:  216-299-4615
[email protected]  

SOURCE Cleveland Eye Clinic