New Procedure Cuts Surgery Time ‘In Half’ Ahead Of World Glaucoma Week
A new glaucoma procedure, proven to cut procedure time by half, was performed on three patients at Mater Dei Hospital by ophthalmic surgeon and consultant Francis Carbonaro.
This comes as the world gets ready to mark World Glaucoma Week from March 12th to 18th.
Glaucoma is a group of common eye disorders with few symptoms in their early stages, where the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, becomes damaged. It is usually caused by fluid build-up in the front part of the eye, which increases the pressure inside the eye.
When glaucoma damages the optic nerve, patches of vision are lost, usually side or peripheral vision.
As the world’s second leading cause of blindness, numbers for glaucoma are expected to increase exponentially, and it is a growing public health concern.
Furthermore, due to the silent progression of the disease – at least in its early stages – up to 50% of affected persons in the developed countries are not even aware of having glaucoma, increasing in underdeveloped countries.
Locally data is still lacking, however according to a survey carried out in 1989, by Cachia J. et al., around three percent of over 40s in Malta had glaucoma, making it safe to assume that this percentage has increased in the past thirty years.
Earlier this year a new glaucoma procedure, proven to cut procedure time by half, was performed on three patients at Mater Dei Hospital by Ophthalmic Surgeon Carbonaro. This new implant is Preserflo, a new device which forms part of group of implants known as Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery – MIGS.
This very small tube measuring only 8.5mm, is inserted into the eye to drain fluid and reduce the pressure.
Studies have shown that it is safer than standard glaucoma surgery, but just as effective, and the surgery is performed in half the time of a normal glaucoma procedure with less post-operative follow-up required.
Professor Carbonaro said “Patients will benefit greatly from the availability of Preserflo as it is a highly effective, minimally invasive and safe new method which doesn’t compromise on efficacy to combat glaucoma.” He added that all three patients were doing very well at their two-week follow-up appointment.
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