Blog post by: Eye Physicians of Long Beach
Did you know that glaucoma is a group of serious eye diseases that permanently destroy the optic nerve? Damage to your optic nerve elevates your eye pressure, which causes irreversible blindness and vision loss if left untreated.
Although there is no cure for glaucoma, treatment can slow or even stop its progression, helping you maintain your remaining sight. Keep reading to learn more about glaucoma and if Durysta treatment is right for you.
Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension
Ocular hypertension happens when the pressure in your eyes is above standard levels. Normal eye pressure ranges from 10 to 21 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury).
Anything higher than 21 mm Hg means you have ocular hypertension. When your eye pressure is too high, it may damage your optic nerve and cause glaucoma.
There are different types of glaucoma. The most common kind of glaucoma is open-angle glaucoma.
Open-angle glaucoma occurs when fluid drains too slowly from your eye. When fluid cannot drain, it causes a buildup and pressure in your eyes.
Anyone can develop glaucoma. The most significant issue with glaucoma is it often presents virtually no symptoms early on. That’s why it’s crucial to see your eye doctor for regularly scheduled eye exams.
What is Durysta?
When treating glaucoma, the aim is to bring down your intraocular pressure (IOP) or eye pressure. The first treatment for glaucoma patients to lower eye pressure is usually eye drops.
But the issue with eye drops is that many patients forget to take them daily, making them less effective. Eye drops may also not lower eye pressure sufficiently in some glaucoma patients.
If eye drops are difficult to remember to take daily, Durysta can be an excellent treatment option. Durysta is the first dissolvable implant of its kind FDA-approved to treat open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
Durysta has shown to be very successful in decreasing eye pressure in open-angle glaucoma patients. The implant is an excellent alternative to daily drops while managing your IOP for 4-6 months before dissolving.
How Durysta Works
Durysta is a small implant that helps reduce eye pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension (high eye pressure). It’s approximately a millimeter long and housed inside a single-use applicator.
The implant contains ten mcg of bimatoprost. Bimatoprost is a medication used in glaucoma eye drops.
Durysta treatment is a safe 5-minute in-office treatment performed at Eye Physicians of Long Beach. Your ophthalmologist will insert the implant into the front side of your eye.
During the procedure, your eye doctor will dilate your eyes before injecting the dissolvable implant. You’ll stay upright for about an hour to allow the implant to settle.
After insertion, the implant dissolves slowly and disperses bimatoprost. Bimatoprost allows the fluid in your eyes to move through the trabecular meshwork and the uveoscleral route.
By increasing the amount of fluid that flows through both courses, the medication reduces the pressure in your eyes. Even as it dissolves, Durysta continues to help lower elevated eye pressure.
You don’t need to have a separate procedure to remove the implant as it gradually dissolves on its own. Durysta continues working in your eyes for a couple of months before being finally expelled from your body.
Durysta Vs. Prescription Drops
Durysta is easy to insert, and you won’t see or feel it. Here’s how it compares to more traditional eye drops to treat open-angle glaucoma:
Preservative-Free
Some patients may find that the preservatives used in glaucoma eye drops can lead to irritation. Durysta contains a preservative-free drug, which minimizes the chance of irritation.
Sustained-Release Implant
Many patients don’t use topical eye drops as prescribed due to being forgetful or having side effects. Unfortunately, not adhering to proper dosing can result in glaucoma progression and vision loss.
Durysta offers a great alternative to prescription drops. The implant continuously dissolves for several months, allowing for more controlled IOP and reducing the risk of glaucoma progression.
Extended Intraocular Pressure Control
Patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension must use eye drops to control their intraocular pressure several times a day. Once you’ve had Durysta inserted, it releases medication non-stop for up to 6 months, providing extended intraocular pressure control.
Most patients still have controlled IOP levels after Durysta has stopped releasing bimatoprost and it’s fully dissolved. You’ll continue benefiting from the medication for months after.
Some ophthalmologists have even reported that patients continue experiencing lower IOP for 12-24 months after Durysta wears off. While you have Durysta, you won’t have to worry about using eye drops every day.
Side-Effects of Durysta
As with any medication, there may be side effects. Some of the possible side effects of Durysta include:
- Light sensitivity
- Eye pain
- Dry eye
- Blurry vision
- Iritis, inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, called the uvea
- Eye irritation
- Headaches
- Red spot on the white of your eye
- Increased intraocular pressure
- Foreign body sensation in the eye
Signs You May Be a Good Candidate for Durysta
The FDA has approved Durysta for patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Durysta may also be an effective solution to lower your eye pressure if selective laser trabeculoplasty or SLT has not worked for you.
SLT is a glaucoma treatment that uses a cold laser to improve fluid drainage. Some eye conditions or procedures may mean you are not a good candidate for Durysta, including:
- An infection in or around your eye
- You’ve undergone a corneal transplant
- An allergic reaction to bimatoprost or other components of Durysta
- Underlying corneal issues like endothelial corneal dystrophy
- Your posterior lens capsule is missing or raptured
The only way to know if you’re an ideal candidate for Durysta is to schedule an appointment at Eye Physicians of Long Beach.
Get Your Glaucoma Under Control with Durysta
Eye Physicians of Long Beach is proud to offer Durysta, a revolutionary glaucoma treatment. The implant can make a real difference if you’re a suitable candidate.
Are you tired of needing to use glaucoma eye drops daily? Schedule an appointment at Eye Physicians of Long Beach in Long Beach, CA, to learn more about Durysta and if it could be the right glaucoma treatment for you!