Los Angeles, CA | Patient Education on iStent | Ophthalmology Associates of the Valley

Speaker 1: If your doctor has recommended that you undergo cataract surgery, it is likely that your vision has been a challenge for some time. As a result of this procedure, your cataract will be removed and replaced by an artificial intraocular lens or IOL. It is also likely that you and your doctor had discussed that you have mild to moderate open angle glaucoma. This type of glaucoma is most common and occurs when pressure in the eye builds to abnormal levels. This pressure, also referred to as intraocular pressure, may rise when the drainage system in the eye is clogged, which causes an excess of fluid in the eye. High intraocular pressure can potentially lead to permanent vision loss. Unlike cataracts, there is no cure for glaucoma. It is a lifelong disease that must be carefully monitored to limit vision loss, which cannot be regained. Most people take one, two, or even three glaucoma medications daily to control intraocular pressure.

Speaker 1: Today however, a new technology can change how you manage your glaucoma. The FDA approved iStent implant is the world's smallest medical device and can be surgically placed into your eye. The iStent device is designed to lower intraocular pressure, and some patients may experience a reduction in their glaucoma medications, but this will be at the discretion of the physician managing your glaucoma. The iStent implant works by improving the eye's natural ability to direct fluid flow through the trabecular meshwork, which is the anatomy through which fluid exits the eye. Most of the fluid in your eye naturally drains through this meshwork and into the bloodstream through a structure called Schlemm's canal. When this outflow system becomes blocked, the pressure in your eye increases. The iStent implant is designed to bypass the blockage within the trabecular meshwork and improve the natural flow of fluid out of the eye.

Speaker 1: The iStent procedure is minimally invasive and is performed at the same time as the cataract surgery. After implanting the IOL, your doctor will insert the iStent implant through the same incision that was created for your cataract procedure. No additional anesthesia or surgical materials are required for the procedure. The iStent implant is inserted through the trabecular meshwork to create a bypass channel that allows fluid to drain into Schlemm's canal and into the bloodstream. By lowering eye pressure, the iStent implant may reduce your need for glaucoma medications. Ask your doctor today about the iStent implant. It may be a solution to manage your glaucoma and to regain the freedom you deserve.