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Long-term efficacy, health economic studies needed for glaucoma microstents
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NICE, France – Glaucoma microstents are a step in the right direction, but their long-term efficacy and economic value still need to be demonstrated, according to one specialist.
“What I foresee is that they will prove their value more and more in combined procedures. As our patients are visiting the operating room, anyway, for cataract surgery, investing an extra couple of minutes to implant a microstent is definitely worthwhile,” Tarek Shaarawy, MD, said at the 2014 European Glaucoma Society meeting.
Tarek Shaarway
However, manufacturers need to make further investments in research, according to Shaarawy. The glaucoma community expects to have data from feasibility and health economics studies, and specialists are not going to jump on the “bandwagon” simply because the implants are new, he said.
“[The implants] have to prove economic value in terms of length vs. cost of the operation, decreased need for postoperative medications and the number of years they allow patients to be off or partly off medical therapy,” Shaarawy said.
If the implants do not demonstrate sufficient long-term efficacy and cost-effectiveness, they will not be able to survive as an option, Shaarawy said. Therefore, having long-term study data available is mandatory.
“We should aim at longer-term results than just 1 year, because we have seen many of these devices do very well for 1 year and then completely lose efficacy,” he said.
Disclosure: Shaarawy has no relevant financial disclosures.