To Infinity… And Beyond
Glaukos’ iStent infinite® represents a safe interventional glaucoma option for a variety of patients
| 2 min read
sponsored by Glaukos
Over the past decade, Glaukos – a global leader in developing MIGS devices – has invested more than US$500 million into research and development to provide surgeons with unique solutions designed to advance the standard of glaucoma care, ultimately benefiting a wide variety of patients who require glaucoma management.
One key innovation resulting from this investment is the iStent infinite®. Designed to provide foundational, 24/7 therapy, the iStent infinite gives surgeons the power to deliver optimized treatment to glaucoma patients who have failed prior medical and surgical intervention, while minimizing unwanted side effects that can be associated with more invasive treatment options (1).
iStent infinite is designed to safely offer interventional glaucoma, a truly micro-invasive alternative to medications and more invasive procedures for these patients, helping address rampant rates of patient non-compliance and disease progression. This first-of-its- kind, standalone implantable alternative provides surgeons the versatility to treat a variety of patients as it can be used in patients as a standalone or combo-cataract procedure, regardless of disease state. To this day, too many patients continue to experience disease progression and visual field loss despite being prescribed topical glaucoma medications. As an example, in one study reviewing a 20-year period of glaucoma patients on medication, 13.5 percent of patients progressed to blindness in one eye and 4.3 percent of patients progressed to bilateral blindness (2). With iStent infinite, specialists now have the opportunity to intervene surgically in a safe and effective manner in patients who are eligible, delaying or hopefully preventing the more invasive procedure.
Infinite in detail
So, how does the iStent infinite work? With three wide-flange, anatomically- designed, heparin-coated titanium stents preloaded into an elegant, precision-engineered injector system, iStent infinite is a first- of-its-kind standalone implant
that uses these powerful technologies to deliver long-term IOP control. By restoring physiologic outflow – creating arcs of flow spanning up to 240° (or eight clock hours) around Schlemm’s canal – iStent infinite offers broader coverage than other MIGS procedures, while minimizing tissue disruption (1).
Additional unique features of the iStent infinite injector system include a stent delivery button designed for smooth stent deployment – with an unlimited number of delivery attempts, a singulator designed to position and prepare each stent for deployment, an 8-degree-angled insertion tube designed to minimize incision interference and provide greater access to deliver stents widely, and an ergonomic, tapered handpiece for comfort and control. Last but not least, the auto-retracting introducer tip is designed for seamless entry through the corneal incision and protects against viscoelastic egress during implantation, helping maintain a firm chamber.
Supported by strong pivotal data, highlighting favorable safety and effectiveness, and the first FDA-cleared standalone implantable alternative, iStent infinite gives surgeons the power to do more for their patient.
- Glaukos Data on File.
- JA Olayanju et al., “Trabeculectomy-related complications in Olmstead County, Minnesota, 1985 through 2010,” JAMA Ophthalmol, 133, 574 (2015). PMID: 25742023.
