Do you or someone you love have glaucoma? One of the most important things to remember is to take your medication every day when you have glaucoma.
Whether it’s eye drops or oral medication, it can be easy to accidentally skip a day or two. Plus, inserting eye drops can be difficult for some.
Since glaucoma can lead to permanent vision loss and even blindness, you must keep up with your medication. Luckily, there’s an easier way to make sure you get the treatment you need to lower your intraocular pressure.
Keep reading to learn more about a treatment called Durysta and if it may be right for you!
What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye condition that increases pressure in the eye. It is typically the result of a build-up of fluid.
There is a constant flow of fluid in your eye, balancing the new fluid entering and the older fluid draining outward. When the drainage network is compromised, a build-up occurs.
The rise in intraocular pressure, or IOP, can get to the point where it damages your optic nerve. The optic nerve comprises nerve fibers that send images to the brain. Without it, your eye would be unable to transmit visual information, and you would be unable to see.
Known as the “silent thief of sight,” glaucoma is one of the top causes of vision loss. Once severe damage to the optic nerve occurs, the effects are permanent. This is why it is so important to intervene as early as possible with effective treatment.
There are two general types of glaucoma: open-angle and closed-angle. Open-angle is the most common form of glaucoma that progresses gradually over time.
Many patients do not even realize they have it until some degree of vision loss occurs. Closed-angle glaucoma, on the other hand, develops quickly. It often involves noticeable symptoms like eye pain and sudden blurry vision.
How Does Durysta Treat Glaucoma?
Durysta is a small implant inserted in your eye and dissolves over time. It contains bimatoprost, the first and only FDA-approved biodegradable sustained-release implant to decrease IOP.
The only way to treat glaucoma is to decrease your IOP to return to normal levels. While the damage that has already occurred is irreversible, you can prevent further damage.
Durysta is only an option to treat open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The dissolvable implant is placed in the anterior chamber of your eye during a quick, simple, painless office procedure.
After being placed in the eye, it’s left to dissolve on its own for several months. It slowly releases the medication into the eye as it dissolves.
The procedure does not take long, and you won’t feel any discomfort. Because it dissolves, you won’t need to have it removed at a later date.
One of the most significant benefits of choosing Durysta is it’s intended to replace the daily need for eye drops. You will no longer have to remember to take your eye drops each day or struggle with discomfort as you put them in.
Additionally, many glaucoma drops are costly, so by having a Durysta implant, patients can save money. With Durysta, you’ll have your medication delivered much more conveniently. There’s no additional action needed on your part.
Are you interested in replacing your daily glaucoma drops with Durysta? Find out if you are a good candidate for this highly convenient treatment option by calling Fichte, Endl & Elmer Eyecare at 1-800-309-2020 to request an appointment in Buffalo, NY now!
