Glaukos, the corporate founder and pioneer of micro-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), has announced that more than one million iStent technologies have been implanted in procedures worldwide.
The milestone achievement indicates the success of early glaucoma intervention with the minimally-invasive, tissue-sparing solutions offered by the iStent family of technologies.
…iStent, as the first MIGS device, and subsequent generations, have fundamentally revolutionised the way we think and treat glaucoma over the last decade
Before the introduction of iStent and MIGS, patients were limited to the option of eye drops, often unsuitable for patients, or invasive surgery, which carries more risk than is warranted for mild-to-moderate glaucoma.
“As one of the early adopters, I have experienced first-hand how iStent, as the first MIGS device, and subsequent generations, have fundamentally revolutionised the way we think and treat glaucoma over the last decade,” said Professor Ike Ahmed MD, from the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at John A. Moran Eye Center in Utah, United States and Chief Innovation Officer at Prism Eye Institute in Toronto, Canada.
“One million iStents implanted is a tremendous accomplishment and I’m grateful to Glaukos for their continued dedication, investment and pioneering spirit to advance the development of innovative glaucoma technologies designed to improve the treatment paradigm for the benefit of patients worldwide.”
John Berdahl, MD, Vance Thompson Vision, United States, says the iStent inject W is the most commonly used surgical option for glaucoma patients undergoing cataract surgery in his practice.
“iStent technologies have allowed me to change the way I treat my patients for the better…We now have patient data out past nine years in my practice showing the iStent is still effective and safe at lowering IOP and reducing medications,” he said.
Reflecting on the milestone, Glaukos Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Thomas Burns, said, “I am proud of this tremendous achievement for our company and the MIGS marketplace, reflecting decades of investment and successful advancement of our strategic vision to transform the treatment of chronic, debilitating eye diseases through development of novel, sustainable therapies.”
The iStent technologies are supported by more than 200 peer-reviewed publication and 20 years of clinical and commercial experience.