If you recently found out that you have glaucoma or you have had it for years, it’s important to know what your treatment options are. Something new is here!
For patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, the OMNI Surgical System may be a good fit. At Fichte, Endl, & Elmer Eyecare, our eye doctors regularly use this system to help glaucoma patients keep their eyesight and get off eye drops. Keep reading to learn more about the OMNI Surgical System and how it helps treat glaucoma!
What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a condition that leads to increased pressure in the eye, called intraocular pressure (or IOP). Increased IOP can occur due to blockages in the eye’s drainage networks.
When left untreated, it can damage your optic nerve. Damage to the optic nerve is irreversible and can lead to vision loss or blindness.
The most common form of glaucoma is primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Primary open-angle glaucoma gradually develops, and most patients don’t realize they have it until vision loss has already occurred.
Those with POAG can experience three potential blocks in their drainage network: the trabecular meshwork, Schlemm’s Canal, and the distal collector channel.
The trabecular meshwork is made of spongy tissue. It is responsible for moving fluid away from your eye and into Schlemm’s Canal.
Schlemm’s Canal then transports the fluid to the distal collector channel, where fluid gets carried out of your eye. Any of these areas can experience blockages that increase IOP.
How Can the OMNI Surgical System Help?
The OMNI Surgical System is a MIGS (minimally invasive glaucoma surgery) device. It works to reduce IOP in glaucoma patients.
The OMNI Surgical System also utilizes two other procedures that don’t require implants to decrease IOP. This treatment is used to reopen your eye’s drainage system so that fluid can flow naturally instead of accumulating.
The OMNI Surgical System is unlike other glaucoma treatments in that it simultaneously targets three points of resistance. It can be tricky to identify which of these blockage areas contribute to a rise in IOP.
Instead of treating them one by one and hoping to find the source of the issue, this system can address them all at once. This means that rather than trying multiple treatments to rectify the blockage, more patients can experience success after only one treatment.
It works by targeting the potential blocked points in the drainage network, allowing them to reopen and let the fluid drain out. Your surgeon only uses one tool to perform two procedures that target all three potential pinch points.
The OMNI Surgical System is performed on an outpatient basis. It typically only takes a few minutes to complete. The recovery period is short, and patients can usually resume normal activities after 24 hours.
Experience the Benefits of the OMNI Surgical System
Any patient with POAG can benefit from this treatment. It can be performed alongside cataract surgery, but it doesn’t have to be. Unlike other MIGS procedures, the OMNI Surgical System can also be performed as a standalone procedure.
In addition to its efficiency, the OMNI Surgical System can also be more affordable than other treatments. Compared to the ongoing expenses of medications like eye drops and ointments, it is more cost-effective over time.
It’s also more convenient while saving you time. The OMNI Surgical System will permanently reduce your intraocular pressure, ending your need to use other treatments or medications. Wouldn’t it be great to get off your glaucoma eye drops forever? OMNI may be the answer.
Want to learn more about the OMNI Surgical System and if it could be right for you? Please schedule an appointment at Fichte, Endl & Elmer Eyecare in Buffalo, NY, by giving us a call at 1-800-309-2020!
