Wilmington Eye has announced the availability of iDose® TR (travoprost intraocular implant) 75 mcg. iDose TR is a newly FDA-approved treatment designed to provide long-duration, continuous drug therapy directly inside the eye. This helps patients better control the elevated eye pressure associated with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
Glaucoma is an eye disease caused by increased eye pressure and can damage the optic nerve, which carries visual information from the eyes to the brain. If left untreated, glaucoma can cause permanent damage to the eye, leading to irreversible vision loss. Prescription eye drops are the most common treatment for glaucoma, but they can be difficult to administer correctly and can cause uncomfortable or irritating side effects for most patients. High rates of non-compliance and non-adherence to prescription medications contribute to disease progression.
“With iDose TR, we confront the standard practice of relying on topical drops, which may cause unpleasant side effects and be challenging to properly administer multiple times a day,” said Dr. Robert van der Vaart, partner and board-certified ophthalmic surgeon at Wilmington Eye. “By delivering an effective therapy directly inside of the eye, iDose TR is an alternative to prescription eye drops and a hands-free way to keep eye pressure under control.”
iDose TR, developed by Glaukos, reduces high or elevated pressure within the eye by automatically releasing the same type of medication that has been used for decades in the most commonly prescribed eye drops. In a clinical study, 8 out of 10 patients did not need prescription eye drops 12 months after receiving iDose TR. This treatment may be especially beneficial for patients who have difficulty adhering to a daily medication regimen or whose condition is uncontrolled on topical glaucoma medications.
Wilmington Eye is dedicated to providing our patients with the most advanced treatment options available,” said Kathy Erickson, CEO at Wilmington Eye. “iDose TR represents a significant development in how we can proactively address glaucoma care, and we are proud to be among the first practices to make this therapy available.”
The most common side effects of iDose TR were mild. The most common side effect of iDose TR was increased eye pressure. Other side effects included inflammation of the iris, dry eye, loss of part of the usual field of vision, eye pain, eye redness, and reduced clarity of vision.
