This article was originally published in a sponsored newsletter.
Historically, patients with elevated eye pressure would be started on drops. That was standard procedure until the LiGHT trial showed that selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is the optimal first-line option. And since then, some amazing devices have come along that have advanced our treatment procedures even further.
Prior to iStent infinite’s (Glaukos) approval as a standalone option, we were in a challenging position where we knew patients could benefit from a stent, but if they were pseudophakic, they would have to pay for it out of pocket.
Now, we can pursue what is best for patients and insurance provides reimbursement. With a chronic disease like glaucoma, we do not want to limit ourselves to treatments only at the time of cataract surgery. In general, the iStent has solid long-term data that continues to make it a wise choice.
It also demonstrates how important data on the benefits of new technologies is to improving the standard of care. It wasn’t that long ago that pursuing a stent option wasn’t feasible, whether that was because of lack of reimbursement or physicians weren’t comfortable with the procedure yet, and we don’t want to go backwards now that options such as the iStent have been effective.
The microinvasive glaucoma surgery landscape has evolved to the benefit of our patients. The last thing that we want is to lose access to any of these new treatment options.
