To help control the increased pressure in your eye associated with glaucoma, the iStent creates a bypass between the front part of your eye and its natural drainage pathway to restore your eye’s natural ability to drain fluid. The iStent is gently inserted in your eye during cataract surgery. Once inserted, you will not be able to see or feel the device.
The world’s tiniest medical device — the iStent Trabecular Micro-Bypass Stent — is 20,000 times smaller than the intraocular lens (IOL) that Dr. Husain will use to replace your cataracts. But the size of iStent is only part of its story. By increasing your eye’s ability to drain fluid, this technology is designed to improve the aqueous outflow to safely lower your eye pressure.
iStent: Manage your Glaucoma
iStent works like the stents used to prevent heart attacks and strokes. When blood vessels get clogged, a stent creates access to the vessel flow.
While it’s a highly innovative technology, how iStent works is elegantly simple. If you have glaucoma, over time your eye’s natural drainage system becomes clogged. iStent creates a permanent opening through the blockage to improve the eye’s natural fluid outflow. By improving the outflow of fluid in your eye, iStent is designed to lower and control the pressure within your eye.
If iStent sounds like something you’re interested in, talk to Dr. Husain. He will be able to answer other questions you might have.
If he agrees that iStent is right for you, then he can implant it during your cataract surgery procedure. Once implanted, the iStent will begin working to safely and effectively manage your eye pressure. And because of iStent, you may experience a reduction in glaucoma medications, though this will be at the discretion of your prescriber.
