Durysta Glaucoma Implant

The Durysta® glaucoma implant is a biodegradable, injectable device for lowering high eye pressure and reducing glaucoma progression. Arun Joseph, MD, and his expert colleagues at Dallas Glaucoma Specialists in Allen, Texas, offer Durysta glaucoma implants to people who have difficulty using eye drops, suffer side effects from them, or who wish to reduce the number they use. Call Dallas Glaucoma Specialists or request an appointment online today to see if you’re a good candidate for Durysta glaucoma implants.

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an eye condition that may lead to blindness if left untreated. It develops when something prevents the natural fluid drainage from your eye, which increases pressure in the eyeball.

The intraocular pressure inside your eye should stay the same. As old fluid flows away through the eye’s drainage angle, new fluid replaces it at the same rate, maintaining an even pressure. However, new fluid continues to flow into the eye even when old fluid drains too slowly or can’t get out of your eye, so the pressure gradually (or quickly) increases.

When ocular hypertension (high eye pressure) reaches a certain level, it starts pressing on the optic nerve at the back of your eye. The million-plus tiny nerve fibers in the optic nerve begin dying, affecting your sight. If all the nerve fibers die, your brain can’t receive information from your eyes, and you won’t be able to see.  

Initial glaucoma treatment typically involves eye drops that reduce fluid production, increase fluid outflow, or both.

What is a Durysta glaucoma implant?

The Durysta glaucoma implant is the only FDA-approved dissolvable eye implant for reducing eye pressure in patients with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma. It slowly releases medication that lowers the pressure in the eyeball, preventing sight loss.

The implant is biodegradable, breaking down harmlessly over time. A Durysta glaucoma implant can reduce eye pressure for several months — studies indicate it’s effective for up to 15 weeks.

Why would I need a Durysta glaucoma implant?

Your Dallas Glaucoma Specialists ophthalmologist might recommend Durysta glaucoma implants if you have ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma and drops are unsatisfactory.

Some patients opt for the Durysta glaucoma implant as a result of difficulties administering the drops into the eyes or due to unpleasant side effects from the eye drops. Other people choose Durysta glaucoma implants because they want to reduce the quantity of glaucoma eye drops they use.

What happens when I have a Durysta glaucoma implant?

Durysta implantation is an outpatient procedure. Your Dallas Glaucoma Specialists ophthalmologist injects the implant into your eye after numbing it with anesthetic eye drops. The implant starts dissolving, releasing its medication and reducing your intraocular pressure.

You may initially experience some redness or eye irritation, but most patients have no adverse effects from Durysta glaucoma implants.

Call Dallas Glaucoma Specialists to see if you’re a good candidate for Durysta glaucoma implants, or request an appointment via the online booking feature today.