Four patients from rural New South Wales have become part of an Australian-first, having undergone an advanced form of glaucoma surgery at Broken Hill Base Hospital on 19 March.
Although it’s been in use for some years in Australia, until now Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS), has never been undertaken outside a major metropolitan city.
Glaucoma surgeon Dr. Ashish Agar was one of the first ophthalmologists in Australia to perform MIGS, and he performed today’s surgeries. He is a key member of the Outback Eye Service team based at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney and Director of the Ophthalmology Service at Broken Hill Base Hospital.
The device being used is the Hydrus Microstent, developed by Ivantis, Inc. in Irvine, California (USA)*.
Before today rural and remote glaucoma patients could not access this advanced technology in their own communities
“Before today rural and remote glaucoma patients could not access this advanced technology in their own communities, despite the fact that its outcomes can be transformational,” Dr Agar said.
“Today is a boon for equity of access to specialist medical services for people living in the bush. It also represents major progress in the treatment of glaucoma in Australia,” he said.
