In glaucoma, the optic nerve deteriorates as a result of increased eye pressure and if left untreated, vision loss occurs. As known; Most organs in our body meet their nutritional and oxygen needs through vessels and blood circulation. However, there are no vessels in the eye lens and corneal tissues within the eye under normal conditions. Because; The nutrition of these tissues must be provided by a fluid produced within the eye. After delivering the liquid oxygen nutrients to the tissues, this liquid oxygen coming into the eye leaves the eye through small channels and is replaced by the newly incoming liquid. In glaucoma, there is a disorder or increased resistance in the system of channels that allow fluid to leave the eye. For this reason, the fluid leaving the eye is delayed and eye pressure rises.
What does “Stent Treatment” do? It was developed to improve intraocular fluid circulation. The highest resistance in the excretion system of the intraocular fluid is found in a region as thin as approximately one tenth of a millimeter. With stents, this blocked area is 'by-passed' and fluid circulation is corrected. We can compare this to opening blocked vessels in the heart with stents. The stents we use in glaucoma are 'L' shaped, smaller than 1 mm and made of titanium. It has been used for approximately three years and no tissue reaction to the stent has been observed.
To which type of Glaucoma patients can stents be applied?
Stent treatment is what we call 'open angle glaucoma' and all glaucoma patients are treated with it. It can be applied to a large number of patients, approximately two-thirds of them. Patients with early or middle stage glaucoma who do not want/cannot use medication or whose eye pressure cannot be reduced despite using medication are the most suitable candidates.
How is the application done?
Under local anesthesia (without injections). It is performed in the operating room. The process is completed in a short time of 10-15 minutes. The procedure is painless, no stitches are placed and the patient is sent home immediately. After the surgery, antibiotics and cortisone will be administered for approximately 3 weeks. drops are used.
IT IS ALSO APPLIED IN PATIENTS WHERE GLAUCOMA AND CATARACT ARE COMBINED.
Glaucoma and cataract occur together quite frequently. In such patients, if the glaucoma is at a very early stage and the eye pressure is not very high, we can reduce the eye pressure to a certain extent by performing cataract surgery only with phacoemulsification. However, in patients with moderate-to-advanced stage glaucoma, stent application in the same session with cataract surgery provides significant benefits for the control of eye pressure. Performing it together with cataract surgery does not require opening an additional entrance to the eye and does not require any subsequent stitching, and it only prolongs the total surgery time by 10 minutes.
Are there any side effects?
Glaucoma patients The majority of them are very afraid and shy about surgery. The main reason for this is the problems such as blurred vision, stinging and watering that develop after trabeculectomy, which is the classical surgical method commonly used in glaucoma.
The most important advantage of stent surgery is that it does not cause any of these problems that are usually seen after classical glaucoma surgery. The next day after the intervention, there is no decrease in the patient's vision and even the glasses prescription does not change significantly. Stinging and redness are minimal and disappear within a few days. Stents have significant advantages in the long term compared to the classical method, trabeculectomy, in terms of side effects. The most important of these is that the risk of late-stage infection is completely eliminated.
How effective is the method? According to the results we obtained as a result of the research we have been conducting for nearly three years, stents have an effect similar to drug therapy in newly diagnosed patients who have not received any treatment. In patients who are using medication but whose eye pressure cannot be reduced sufficiently despite 2-3 medications, it provides an additional decrease in eye pressure and it is possible to discontinue some of the medications.
An important point that should be mentioned here is; In cases of advanced glaucoma presenting at a very late stage, the eye pressure may need to be reduced significantly to stop the disease. To ensure control in such patients In addition to stent application, medications may be required, and sometimes classical glaucoma surgery - trabeculectomy is performed.
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