Latest surgical impact useful for preventing total blindness
A new surgical implant, known as Retisert, is under the testing stage to examine its effectiveness for curbing complete vision loss and eliminating dependence on systemic, or whole-body, immunosuppression.
The implant can be used to treat patients suffering from Sympathetic ophthalmia, a rare but potentially devastating eye condition.
From Sciencedaily.com:
The device previously was studied in approximately 300 individuals who had a different immune system inflammation of the eye. The UI-led sympathetic ophthalmia study found that with Retisert, the eight patients reduced or eliminated use of systemic medications to control inflammation. While two patients needed to resume using an oral immunosuppressive, vision improved or remained stable in all eight patients.
“Using Retisert, we are stabilizing vision in patients with sympathetic ophthalmia and getting them off the heavy-duty immunosuppressive medications,” Mahajan said. “Patients had been willing to put up with the serious side effects of systemic immunosuppression because if they lost vision in their remaining good eye, it would be totally life-altering. With Retisert, we can save the eye, and the side effects are limited to treatable risks of high pressure or cataracts in the eye.”
Vinit Mahajan, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the University Of Iowa Carver College Of Medicine and a retinal surgeon with University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, remarked that this option is effective than the presently used non-surgical methods, and high doses of oral steroids followed by oral immunosuppressive medications.
