Print
Oct 6, 2008 8:30 am US/Pacific
New Glaucoma Treatment An Alternative To Eye Drops
MINNEAPOLIS (CBS) ―
-
-
"In some patients the fluid pressure in the eye is too high and it injures the nerve that carries all vision from the eye to the brain," explained Samuelson, pointing to a model.
CBS
Three million Americans could be losing their sight to Glaucoma right now. Eye drops work for most patients, but they are costly and people often forget to take them. There may be a permanent solution with a surgical procedure that is gaining popularity, reports CBS station WCCO-TV in Minneapolis.
Joyce Matilla is giving it a try. Matilla has battled sight-stealing Glaucoma for 30 years and her medicated eye drops are not controlling it as well as they once did. If the expensive drops fail, LASERS are often the next step to try to repair tissues and allow excess fluids to drain.
Eye surgeon Dr. Thomas Samuelson says in a healthy eye, a ring-like canal keeps fluid pressures safe.
"The natural drainage system of the eye is at the junction of the sclera, which is the white of the eye and the clear cornea," said Samuelson. "Right at their intersection there the drain passes circumferentially around the [front of the] eye."
For millions of people like Matilla, that canal collapses or clogs up.
"In some patients the fluid pressure in the eye is too high and it injures the nerve that carries all vision from the eye to the brain," explained Samuelson. "This nerve has 1.2 million fibers."
To access the canal and make a repair, Samuelson will first slice two tiny flaps in the eye wall. His scalpel is barely larger than the tip of a needle. Next, a hair-thin catheter made by i-Science is inserted into the canal to dilate it.
Watching the procedure, one can follow its progress around the iris and through the canal thanks to a flashing orange light which shines through the inner wall of the eye. Finally, a stent is threaded into the canal to keep it open.
Samuelson became a fan of the procedure after helping to test the device in clinical trials.
"It's unique because it helps restore fluid flow in the natural drainage system," said Samuelson. "Traditional glaucoma surgery completely bypasses the natural drain."
Even though Matilla has had the disease for decades, Samuelson said her damage was not yet severe and the device was a good option for her. He said, generally speaking, he believes it is also best-suited for those who are younger, whose disease is in the earlier stages.
Matilla is in awe at the technology that may save her sight.
"The eye is so tiny and so delicate that it's just surprising they can do anything," she said. "It's really wonderful that they've come up with something this ingenious."
Once nerve damage occurs it cannot be reversed, so it's critical to catch glaucoma as early as possible. Because there are usually no symptoms until it's too late, regular eye exams are essential to avoid the blindness glaucoma can cause.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
