Posted by: Clemson Eye in Media Releases
GREENVILLE, SC (Aug. 7, 2014) — An innovative new technology to treat glaucoma offers significant relief for patients in the Upstate. The iStent is the smallest device designed to be implanted in the body and is now being offered by Clemson Eye — one of just a handful of ophthalmologists certified to perform this procedure in South Carolina.
Glaucoma, a buildup of pressure in the eye that damages the optic nerve, is the second leading cause of blindness in the world, according to the World Health Organization. While 2.2 million in the U.S. are believed to have it, only half may know it. Until now, treatment for glaucoma primarily involved a lifetime regimen of expensive and sometimes painful drops.
The iStent is implanted in the eye in conjunction with cataract surgery. Like other stents, it bypasses blockages to relieve the pressure in the eye. For patients with mild to moderate glaucoma, this can reduce or even eliminate the need for drops. Dr. Joseph Parisi, an eye surgeon at Clemson Eye, sees the iStent as a significant advantage for patients who have had few options. “Lowering pressure in the eye is the only thing we can do to treat glaucoma. If you can lower it enough, you can stop the disease from progressing,” he explains.
The current use of the iStent was approved by the FDA in June of 2012. About 20 percent of cataract patients have glaucoma and it makes sense, he says, to perform this procedure when you are already in the eye, rather than as a separate procedure, although Dr. Parisi anticipates approval as a standalone procedure in the future. So far, iStent results have been very positive with about 68 percent of patients remaining medication free.
“One of the biggest problems with glaucoma is the high non-compliance rate with people taking their drops. As many as 90 percent of patients do not adhere to their prescribed regimen and more than half stop using them completely,” he says.
The device is just the first of a number of innovative new approaches on the drawing board that fall under the umbrella of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery. The iStent is tiny. At 1 millimeter long and just a third of a millimeter high, it requires advanced ophthalmic operating microscopes to “visualize the anatomy” and place the device in the eye, says Dr. Parisi.
While this and other treatments can help control glaucoma, there is no cure for the disease and no way to repair optic nerve damage. The most important step anyone can take to preserve and protect their vision is to have a regular eye exam — whether you have vision changes or not. By the time you notice and act on vision changes, glaucoma can already be quite advanced.
Dr. Parisi and Clemson Eye became certified on the iStent after performing six procedures proctored by the developer. “We’re excited to be in the first wave of ophthalmologists utilizing this procedure, which can significantly improve quality of life for glaucoma patients,” Dr. Parisi says.
Additional availability: To set up an interview with Dr. Parisi, please contact Laura Haight at
864-322-3179. Images of the iStent also available.
Clemson Eye has been a leading provider of visual health for Upstate residents for the past 40 years, providing them with comprehensive ophthalmologic and Lasik services. Clemson Eye has five locations in Greenville, Anderson, Easley, Clemson, and a Lasik center, Spectrum Lasik, in Greenville. Its American Board Certified Ophthalmologists have performed more than 50,000 cataract, Lasik and microsurgical procedures.
