Glaukos Corporation’s Post

Transcript

If there is a new medical breakthrough for Oklahoma patients with glaucoma, Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness around the world. And for the past 10 years, researchers have been testing a microscopic device implanted in the eye to treat glaucoma. One of the very first FDA approved procedures in the world was done right here in Oklahoma just a few weeks ago. Now this is a cutting edge medical advancement and news four is Allie Meyer was there. In the operating room. Imagine a world where everything is dark and blurry, life without the edges. Glaucoma affects 3 million Americans. One in five will go blind even with treatment. There's no cure for glaucoma, but the treatment slow the progression down significantly. Treatment includes laser procedures, eye surgery, and for most eye drops, lots and lots of eye drops. They're saying friends don't let friends be on 4 bottles of glaucoma eye drops for 80% of patients. Drops can control eye pressure and prevent optic nerve damage. But there are challenges. I was putting 10 different eye drops in my eyes in in one day and you have to wait a few minutes, 10 to 15 minutes before you put the next one in. And it seemed like all I was doing is putting eye drops in. Joanne Bellman was diagnosed with glaucoma 10 years ago, the same disease. Stole her mother's vision and since my mom went blind with glaucoma and macular degeneration, I was real concerned and I didn't want to go down the same path. And I do a lot of praying about my eyes every day. I pray that God will increase my sight and not let it get worse. For Bellman, Idose is an answer to her prayers. It is a tiny titanium device surgically implanted in the eye to deliver a constant flow of concentrated glaucoma. Medication travoprost, remarkable in its management and one eye dose is equivalent to 2180 eye drops sustained release for up to three years. Fellowship trained glaucoma surgeon Doctor Steve Sarkisian was the leading recruiter for the phase three trial. For Idose. It's been a lot of years in the making. So I'm I'm trying not to be emotional about it. And this day he is one of the very first in the world to perform the surgery with FDA approval. You did great job. Really, really great. We're all done. Patients are awake, only slightly medicated. The procedure takes just a few minutes. Hopefully one of these days I won't have to take any drops. Bellman had eye dose on her left eye. She hopes to do her right eye soon. Every day I come to work and get to work with my people to push back the darkness for my patients is such a joy. I love every second of my life and, and it's part of things like this, being an early adopter of new technology. That's just great. Gives me great excitement. Right now, Doctor Sarkissian is the only doctor in Oklahoma doing the surgery. Many more are expected to offer it in the future. Ali Meyer, Oklahoma's News Four and on the day Ali joined Doctor Sarkisian in the operating room, he did 3 idose surgeries. All three were Medicare patients. Now, Medicare is expected to pay. However, medical breakthrough surgeries often take several months to be approved.