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Micro-invasive glaucoma surgery fulfills area of need in market, patient treatment
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CHICAGO — With medication compliance in glaucoma patients a well-known problem and with the issue of invasiveness of trabeculectomy, there is a large unmet patient and market need for micro-invasive glaucoma treatments for mild to moderate glaucoma cases, according to a clinician here.
At the Ophthalmology Innovation Summit preceding the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting, Ike K. Ahmed, MD, said that up to 60% of glaucoma patients fall into the mild to moderate disease state and that there are micro-invasive (ab interno) surgical options that will minimize the need for medications without being as dangerous or invasive as trabeculectomy.
“We currently do not have options for these patients, so that’s an area of need,” Dr. Ahmed said.
Dr. Ahmed defined micro-invasive glaucoma surgery as procedures with an ab interno approach through a clear corneal incision of less than 2 mm, which spares conjunctiva. The procedures have modest IOP-lowering effects, but they are extremely safe with a rapid recovery and modest surgical difficulty.
“Outcomes are often based on a reduction of medications,” he said.
Dr. Ahmed said that these micro-invasive approaches are also synergistic with cataract surgery procedures in their technique and effect.
The whole idea of micro-invasive glaucoma surgery, Dr. Ahmed said, is to intervene earlier in the disease process, which reduces progression and the need for more aggressive and invasive surgical options.
- Disclosure: Dr. Ahmed is a consultant for Alcon, AquaSys, Glaukos, Ivantis and Transcend Medical.