Scientists Introduce Self-Cleaning Glaucoma Drainage Implant
In the United States, about 3 million people have glaucoma, and it is the top cause of irreversible blindness in the world. While some drugs are available to help relieve increased intraocular pressure caused by glaucoma, these treatments do not always provide long-term solutions for the condition. The goal of treatment is to prevent continued nerve damage and preserve the patient’s eyesight, since any eyesight loss from glaucoma cannot be restored with current medical technology.
For glaucoma patients that have not responded to medications to reduce intraocular pressure, another treatment is a shunt or drainage device. This device is implanted in the eye to maintain a passageway through which the eye’s aqueous fluid can flow, thus helping to reduce intraocular pressure. However, the most pressing issue with implants is the tendency to accumulate microorganisms (a process referred to as “biofouling”), which can stop proper functioning within five years.
Creating a New, More Dependable Option for Patients
Scientists at Purdue University in Indiana recently announced a potential solution to this problem that could provide a more durable treatment. The researchers used magnets to engineer a new, “smart” glaucoma drainage device that makes use of microactuators to loosen any bio-organic material build-up on the devices. The microactuators vibrate in the presence of a magnetic field induced by an external machine controlled by the physician; think of the actuators as windshield wipers clearing organic material that has collected on the drainage device.
The on-demand technology made possible by the use of magnets and magnetic fields may create a safer and more reliable drainage device for patients with glaucoma. In addition, the device built by Purdue scientists allows for customization in relation to glaucoma care. Namely, flow resistance can be adjusted in the drainage device so treatment can be adapted to the severity of the condition. If the patient’s intraocular pressure continues to increase, the flow resistance can be reduced to provide additional drainage, rather than having to implant a completely new device. In other words, the implant could be placed when the patient’s condition is not critical and adjusted as time goes on, helping the patient maintain as much of their vision as possible.
Looking Forward to the Future of Glaucoma Treatment
While the technology is not yet available to patients, the team at Purdue University is already pushing to get the new device to the market as quickly as possible. The team has engaged the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization to begin the process of filing for a patent and is looking for licensing partners. The technology was recently outlined in the journal Microsystems and Nanoengineering, so it may generate a considerable amount of interest among ophthalmologists and patients alike in the months to come. Growing demand for the device could help speed its arrival on the market, although it must first secure FDA approval.
The technology may hold promise in providing a sustainable solution for patients with glaucoma, but it still presents a few of the same risks that come with traditional drainage devices. However, the new device has the potential to reduce some of the risks involved in surgery, since its ability to self-clean and its adjustable flow rate theoretically means it would not need to be replaced.
