The iStent Trabecular Micro-Bypass is a truly innovative 1mm titanium stent designed for the treatment of open angle glaucoma.  It is the only ab interno device which re-establishes the natural physiological outflow of aqueous humor.  The surgeon implants the stent through a small clear corneal incision into the trabecular meshwork to maximise outflow through Schlemm’s canal.  The iStent requires no additional surgical incision and completely spares conjunctival tissue.  A single iStent provides significant reductions in IOP and eliminates or reduces patient reliance on topical medications.

The Glaukos iStent Model GTS100R/L is CE marked and is manufactured from surgical grade nonferromagnetic titanium, weighs 60 µg with a snorkel bore diameter of 120 µm, and has overall measurements of 0.5 mm x 0.25 mm x 1.0 mm.

How the iStent works

Elevated or uncontrolled eye pressure is the greatest risk for glaucoma patients. The main cause of elevated eye pressure in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma is abnormality of the trabecular meshwork, restricting outflow and causing a back-up of aqueous humor. Up to 75% of resistance to outflow is located in the trabecular meshwork.

An iStent implant bypasses the trabecular meshwork and is placed in Schlemm’s canal near the lower nasal quadrant where there are many collector channels. The iStent creates a bypass through the trabecular meshwork and into Schlemm’s canal which re-establishes physiological outflow.