The FDA just approved the iStent inject.
What is the iStent inject?
It’s a Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) device and is the second generation of the iStent which was approved in 2012.
How is it different than the original iStent?
Besides the shape, (the original looked like a snorkel and the iStent inject looks like a punctal plug), it’s a third of the size and the injector is preloaded with two stents instead of one.
Who is it for?
Patients with mild to moderate open angle glaucoma that are undergoing cataract surgery.
How does it work?
It’s placed in the trabecular meshwork and creates two bypasses through the meshwork (which is usually the main source of resistance). Here is a quick video of the procedure.
How much IOP reduction did they get?
In the clinical trial, there was a mean IOP reduction of 6.8mmHg in the patients that had the iStent inject along with cataract surgery. (via)
