StemCell Therapy

March 10, 2017 7:19 PM

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) Glaucoma is a common, serious eye condition that left untreated can lead to blindness, and its not just a problem for older people.

As CBS2s Dr. Max Gomez explained, a tiny new device is helping to save peoples eyesight.

Lori Karavolis, a 49-year-old nurse and mother of four, was in danger of losing her eyesight.

She has a family history of glaucoma, so she would have the pressure inside her eyes checked regularly, suddenly she got bad news.

Sky high actually, almost a dangerous level, she said. Will I go blind?

One way glaucoma develops is when fluid in the eye doesnt drain normally through tiny mesh-like channels.

Its peripheral vision loss, almost as a tunnel vision, as it gets to be more advanced. And then ultimately it can be full vision loss, Dr. Jennifer Davis explained.

Drops and laser surgery are treatment options, but those channels can close up again.

Now, theres a tiny implanted device called the I-stent that acts as a kind of drain for the excessive fluid.

Its a one millimeter titanium tube thats put in the drainage channels of the eye.

Weve seen a huge improvement in intraocular pressure after surgery, Dr. Davis said, There patients continue to be on fewer drops or no drops, and thats really the idea.

Its meant for people with mild to moderate glaucoma, but its only implanted in people who are also having cataract surgery.

Its not painful at all, and youre back to work or your life the next day, Karavolis said, Im doing great. I dont have to have drops, and just the daily thought of not having that increased pressure.

The I-stent was FDA approved in 2012, but its only recently that its been in widespread use.

Health insurance companies and commercial insurers have been covering it.

The vision lost to glaucoma doesnt come back. Thats why regular eye exams are important, to catch and treat glaucoma before it causes vision loss.

See original here:
New Implanted Device Could Save Eyesight In People Battling Glaucoma - CBS New York

This entry was posted on March 11, 2017 at 10:44 am and is filed under Blindness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |