Riverside Eye Center – iStent
Being diagnosed with glaucoma can be scary. No one likes to be unsure of the future of their vision. Being diagnosed with glaucoma and cataracts makes matters even worse. Fortunately Riverside Eye Center offers a unique opportunity to correct cataracts and treat glaucoma at the same time! If you have been diagnosed with cataracts and glaucoma, iStent® may be for you.
What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma refers to a group of diseases that can cause irreversible damage to the optic nerve. Glaucoma develops when there is a build-up of pressure inside of the eye (referred to at intraocular pressure or IOP). This pressure build-up can happen for a few reasons, but the most common reason is that there is a blockage in the eye’s natural drainage system. As IOP increases, the eye begins to push up against the optic nerve, causing damage. Every year, thousands of people go blind because of glaucoma. Millions of people have glaucoma and don’t know it, because it does not typically cause symptoms.
What Are Cataracts?
Cataracts are the most common cause of blindness in the world, usually occurring in people aged 60 and over. The natural crystalline lens inside of your eye, which is located behind your iris and pupil, is responsible for keeping your vision clear. As we age, the proteins that make up the lens begin to clump together, causing the lens to become foggy. This makes it difficult for light to enter the eye and can greatly affect vision.
What Is iStent®?
iStent® is a tiny device that gets implanted into the eye to improve the flow of fluid through the eye. The iStent® is implanted during your cataract surgery, so you don’t have to worry about receiving two separate surgeries! With iStent®, patients are able to maintain a normal eye pressure and reduce their dependence on glaucoma medications.
How Does It Work?
iStent® is implanted into the eye and creates a bypass between the front part of the eye and its natural drainage pathway. This allows fluids to drain normally, significantly lowering intraocular pressure. Lower IOP means less damage to the optic nerve, and less vision loss.
The iStent® Procedure
iStent® can be implanted during cataract surgery. The procedures will be performed under local anesthesia, meaning you won’t feel a thing. Your surgeon at Riverside Eye will go about your cataract surgery normally. Once the cataract is removed, your surgeon will implant the iStent® device. That’s it! You will not be able to see or feel the iStent® once implanted. iStent® does not change cataract surgery recovery time, and you shouldn’t experience anything out of the ordinary for cataract surgery recovery.
If you have cataracts and you rely on medication or other treatments to manage glaucoma, iStent® could be what you’re looking for! If you would like to see if iStent® is right for you, contact our experts here at Riverside Eye Center in Lewiston, Maine!
Request Your iStent Consultation Below!