GLAUCOMA MONTH: JANUARY 2019 Blink and you’ve missed it: new micro-surgery techniques raise the bar in Glaucoma treatment at Moorfields Dubai XX January 2019 (Dubai – United Arab Emirates): We all have the same instinctive response when something comes close to our eyes – we blink or squeeze them shut tightly; for an eye hospital, consultants and surgeons are very conscious of this natural reaction as they face the challenge of treating complex and serious eye diseases in the most sensitive part of the human body, such as inserting draining tubes into the eye. Today, eye surgery is following the broader trend in medical surgery and developing new minimally invasive techniques; this includes new micro-surgery techniques for one of the most common eye diseases – glaucoma. In the UAE, Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai now provides a unique range of glaucoma treatment options, including new Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) techniques. Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve that causes progressive loss of vision and is the most common cause of irreversible blindness, worldwide. Glaucoma is called ‘the sneak thief of sight’ because there are no symptoms and once vision is lost, it is permanent. As much as 40 per cent of the field of vision can be lost without a person noticing. However, the disease is treatable and blindness can be prevented through early diagnosis. Although medical treatments are often effective, many patients need surgery. For glaucoma, surgery is becoming a minimally invasive (or even micro) procedure, providing patients with a faster, safer surgery and better outcomes. Treatments There is a range of new glaucoma surgical techniques that can be used to reduce the pressure within the eye and help stop or slow any progression of glaucoma and so preserve vision. These new techniques help minimise any risks associated with surgery. MIGS comprise two main surgery types: iStent - A small 1mm mesh tube made from titanium (known as an iStent) is surgically inserted into the eye’s natural drainage channel to help the eye’s natural ability to drain fluid and so reduce pressure inside the eye. This minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) is safe and can reduce the need for patients to use eye drops every day. Xen Gel Stent - the insertion of an Xen Gel Stent also reduces pressure inside the eye by draining fluid via a small drainage tube (stent) connecting the anterior chamber of the eye to a bleb (or reservoir) positioned below the conjunctiva. Dr. Mohammed Sohaib Mustafa, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Specialist in Glaucoma and Cataract Surgery, Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, said: “New Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) is giving patients with mild to moderate glaucoma very good results with improved safety. In fact, ‘Micro’ seems a more appropriate term because these microscopic ophthalmic procedures are different from other minimally invasive surgical procedures. Most MIGS procedures are an alternative to medical therapy and offer patients an improved quality of life compared to living with the daily use of eye drops, for example.” Generally, successful MIGS surgery takes no more than 30 minutes and is usually performed under local anaesthesia, although general anaesthesia is also possible under certain circumstances. Complications are extremely rare and MIGS have excellent safety records. Patients are usually discharged from hospital on the day of surgery with an examination the following day. It takes about one month for the eye to feel completely normal in most cases. Most glaucoma surgical studies show high success rates over a five-year period. The I-stent and XEN gel implant show good results with most patients achieving good pressure control without the need for continued glaucoma medication.
GLAUCOMA MONTH: JANUARY 2019
ReplyDeleteBlink and you’ve missed it: new micro-surgery techniques raise the bar in Glaucoma treatment at Moorfields Dubai
XX January 2019 (Dubai – United Arab Emirates): We all have the same instinctive response when something comes close to our eyes – we blink or squeeze them shut tightly; for an eye hospital, consultants and surgeons are very conscious of this natural reaction as they face the challenge of treating complex and serious eye diseases in the most sensitive part of the human body, such as inserting draining tubes into the eye. Today, eye surgery is following the broader trend in medical surgery and developing new minimally invasive techniques; this includes new micro-surgery techniques for one of the most common eye diseases – glaucoma. In the UAE, Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai now provides a unique range of glaucoma treatment options, including new Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) techniques.
Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve that causes progressive loss of vision and is the most common cause of irreversible blindness, worldwide. Glaucoma is called ‘the sneak thief of sight’ because there are no symptoms and once vision is lost, it is permanent. As much as 40 per cent of the field of vision can be lost without a person noticing. However, the disease is treatable and blindness can be prevented through early diagnosis. Although medical treatments are often effective, many patients need surgery. For glaucoma, surgery is becoming a minimally invasive (or even micro) procedure, providing patients with a faster, safer surgery and better outcomes.
Treatments
There is a range of new glaucoma surgical techniques that can be used to reduce the pressure within the eye and help stop or slow any progression of glaucoma and so preserve vision. These new techniques help minimise any risks associated with surgery. MIGS comprise two main surgery types:
iStent - A small 1mm mesh tube made from titanium (known as an iStent) is surgically inserted into the eye’s natural drainage channel to help the eye’s natural ability to drain fluid and so reduce pressure inside the eye. This minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) is safe and can reduce the need for patients to use eye drops every day.
Xen Gel Stent - the insertion of an Xen Gel Stent also reduces pressure inside the eye by draining fluid via a small drainage tube (stent) connecting the anterior chamber of the eye to a bleb (or reservoir) positioned below the conjunctiva.
Dr. Mohammed Sohaib Mustafa, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Specialist in Glaucoma and Cataract Surgery, Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, said: “New Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) is giving patients with mild to moderate glaucoma very good results with improved safety. In fact, ‘Micro’ seems a more appropriate term because these microscopic ophthalmic procedures are different from other minimally invasive surgical procedures. Most MIGS procedures are an alternative to medical therapy and offer patients an improved quality of life compared to living with the daily use of eye drops, for example.”
Generally, successful MIGS surgery takes no more than 30 minutes and is usually performed under local anaesthesia, although general anaesthesia is also possible under certain circumstances. Complications are extremely rare and MIGS have excellent safety records. Patients are usually discharged from hospital on the day of surgery with an examination the following day. It takes about one month for the eye to feel completely normal in most cases. Most glaucoma surgical studies show high success rates over a five-year period. The I-stent and XEN gel implant show good results with most patients achieving good pressure control without the need for continued glaucoma medication.