GLAUCOMA MANAGEMENT WITH OUT EYE DROPS-

GLAUCOMA MANAGEMENT WITH OUT EYE DROPS-:

The Glaucomas are a group of ocular diseases characterized by changes in the optic nerve head and loss of visual sensitivity and field. There are two major types, open angle glaucoma and closed angle glaucoma. Open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of the disease, affects nearly 60 million people worldwide. The effective proven method to prevent vision loss in such patient is by reducing intraocular pressure (IOP).

The existing treatment methods like, surgical procedures to open blocked drainage channels or implant larger stents, which are used only for patients with advanced glaucoma, carry risks of infection, bleeding, deterioration of other parts of the eye, and vision loss etc. Some patients may not use eye drop medications consistently enough to control their IOP, while others simply don't respond to the drugs. So the scientists now developed a tiny medical device, no larger than an eyelash may significantly reduce eye pressure in glaucoma patients and allow some to stop using eye-drop medications. It is an ultra small drainage device known as hydrus stent confirms its effectiveness in clinical trial. The scientists claimed that so far the mini stents appear to have important advantage in the treatment of open angle glaucoma at the earlier stages with lower risk of complications. If this device effectively controls IOP over many years, it would be a real breakthrough in combating this blinding disease.

Linu Mohan

Asst prof