Local Veteran is first in Utah to receive innovative glaucoma treatment device
Glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness, affects millions of people worldwide. Managing the condition involves medicated eye drops that lower pressure in the eye to protect the ocular nerve from damage, a routine that can be easy to forget.
The introduction of a new device promises to improve adherence to treatment and potentially slow the progression of the disease more effectively.
The Device utilizes the same trusted medication found in eye drops that have been on the market for over two decades, ensuring both safety and efficacy.
“The problem with medications is 50% of patients who are prescribed glaucoma medications don't use them at all or use them very, very inconsistently,” said Dr. Rachel Simpson, division chief of ophthalmology at the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center. “So, it's not a great therapy.”
John Airsman, a Vietnam War Veteran and the first recipient of this device in the state of Utah, expressed excitement and optimism about this new treatment method after struggling to stay on top of his medications since being diagnosed with glaucoma in 1985.
“It feels like I’m a bit of a celebrity,” said Airsman. “I became a candidate for this device because I wasn't really good at remembering and now, I have this device in my eye which will regularly dispense the medication for me.”
This device, roughly 2mm in size, is implanted directly into the eye, where it is designed to steadily release a concentrated medication for 2-3 years.
“I don’t notice the thing,” said Airsman. “I can’t tell it’s in there.”
Simpson, who performed the groundbreaking implant procedure, highlighted the importance of this innovation in glaucoma treatment.
"What's exciting about this brand-new procedure is that it's kind of a combination of two different schools of thought about glaucoma,” said Simpson. “There's people who think we need to get in there and do surgery early to protect the optic nerve. Then, there's people who think we can do that with medications. We know that medications work, so what this surgery does is it combines that effective medication and now we can implant this device into the eye and the medication is slowly emitted into the eye over a period of three years, effectively lowering pressure."
The Department of Veterans Affairs is dedicated to bringing the latest medical advancements to Veterans. This innovative glaucoma treatment is a testament to that commitment, offering new hope and improved quality of life for those affected by this challenging condition.
For more information on this new treatment, please talk your VA primary care provider. For general information on the healthcare services offered to Veterans, please visit VA Salt Lake City Health Care | Veterans Affairs
The VA Salt Lake City Health Care System serves nearly 75,000 Veterans in the intermountain west at its main campus in Salt Lake City and 10 community clinics throughout Utah, Idaho, and Nevada.