iStent®: trabecular micro-bypass stent for open-angle glaucoma

Glaucoma afflicts tens of millions worldwide and is a leading cause of irreversible blindness. The primary objective in managing glaucoma is the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure. Bypassing outflow resistance at the level of the trabecular meshwork can re-establish physiologic aqueous humor outflow from the anterior chamber, thus reducing intraocular pressure. The iStent® trabecular micro-bypass stent is implanted directly into Schlemm’s canal through a clear corneal incision as a standalone procedure or in conjunction with cataract surgery to facilitate aqueous outflow through Schlemm’s canal. iStent is a minimally invasive alternative to current treatments for patients with open-angle glaucoma and has also been shown to offer distinct clinical advantages in the early stages of the disease.