Eye stents are tiny medical devices surgically placed within the eye to regulate intraocular pressure. They offer a specialized approach to managing certain eye conditions by addressing fluid dynamics.
What Eye Stents Are and Why They’re Used
An eye stent is a microscopic medical device, typically a small tube made from biocompatible materials like surgical-grade titanium or a flexible gel polymer. These devices, often less than a millimeter in length, are among the tiniest implants used in the human body, and facilitate the outflow of fluid from the eye.
Eye stents are commonly used to treat open-angle glaucoma, a condition characterized by elevated pressure inside the eye, known as intraocular pressure. If left uncontrolled, this elevated pressure can progressively damage the optic nerve, potentially leading to irreversible vision loss. Stents are a treatment option when eye drops or other methods prove insufficient in lowering eye pressure. By improving fluid drainage, these devices protect the optic nerve and preserve vision.
How Eye Stents Work
The eye produces aqueous humor, a clear fluid that fills the front part of the eye and provides nutrients. This fluid normally drains through a meshwork of tissue and into a canal, maintaining balanced eye pressure. In open-angle glaucoma, this natural drainage system can become blocked or less efficient, causing fluid to accumulate and pressure to rise.
Eye stents create or enhance pathways for aqueous humor to exit the eye. Some stents bypass the blocked natural drainage system, directing fluid into Schlemm’s canal. Other types create a direct channel from inside the eye to the space beneath the conjunctiva, the clear membrane covering the white part of the eye. This improved drainage reduces intraocular pressure.
The Implantation Procedure
Implanting an eye stent is generally a minimally invasive surgical procedure. It is often performed with cataract surgery, but can also be a standalone procedure. The procedure typically takes 5 to 10 minutes alone, or 15 to 30 minutes when combined with cataract removal.
Surgery occurs in an outpatient setting, allowing patients to return home the same day. Local anesthesia, often via eye drops or gel, numbs the eye to ensure comfort. Light intravenous sedation may also be provided. A small incision is made to insert the stent into the drainage structure.
After Eye Stent Implantation
After eye stent implantation, patients experience a recovery period. Immediately after the procedure, temporary blurred vision, mild discomfort, or a feeling of something in the eye may occur. These sensations improve over several days to weeks. A protective eye shield is worn, especially during sleep, for a few days to protect the eye from accidental rubbing or pressure.
Patients receive instructions for post-operative eye drops, which commonly include antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. These drops prevent infection and manage inflammation as the eye heals. Regular follow-up appointments are scheduled, often beginning the day after surgery, then at one week, and again after a few weeks, to monitor eye pressure and assess healing. Activity restrictions are common for a few weeks, such as avoiding strenuous activities, heavy lifting, swimming, and rubbing the eye, to ensure proper healing. A benefit of the stent can be a reduction in the need for glaucoma eye drops.