Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery
While often sight-saving and necessary, traditional glaucoma surgery has been fraught with somewhat prolonged recoveries and less predictable surgical results than many other types of eye procedures.
For that reason, conventional glaucoma surgery has mostly been reserved for patients with the more advanced stages of the disease. Over the last several years, significant advances in surgical devices and techniques have given rise to a new class of glaucoma treatments, namely Micro-Invasive (or “Minimally Invasive”) Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS).
The common theme with these procedures is the ability to provide the patient with a reduction in their intraocular (eye) pressure by way of a brief, low-risk, outpatient procedure with an attendant quick recovery.
These procedures, designed to improve the outflow of fluid from the eye, are painless and are often combined with cataract surgery. Because of the minimally invasive nature of these techniques and the good ability to achieve the desired pressure reduction, MIGS procedures are even available to patients with relatively mild forms of glaucoma.
For example, a patient who takes a glaucoma medication and is in need of cataract surgery may choose to have a MIGS procedure performed at the same time as the cataract procedure as a way of attempting to obviate the need for the pressure-lowering drops.
Dr. Davidorf has been involved with MIGS procedures for many years, teaching courses highlighting the technology prior to the FDA approval of the first device, the i-Stent, in 2012. He has continued to present his research on the subject at major ophthalmology meetings; including the AAO and ASCRS annual meetings.
Following is a list of some of the more commonly performed MIGS procedures.
- iStent
- iStent Inject
- Omni
- Kahook Dual Blade
- Trabectome
- Xen Gel Stent
If you are currently looking for another solution to your glaucoma besides taking pressure lowering eye drops, you might be a candidate for a MIGS procedure.
