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injection could be glaucoma game-changer
the injection of a natural, biodegradable hydrogel holds open a pathway, allowing any excess fluid to escape the eye
dec 9 2020
3 minute read
researchers may have found a new way to treat glaucoma.
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researchers have their sights set on a new method for treating glaucoma that would make daily eyedrops and surgery a thing of the past.
glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world, affects around 75 million people — including 400,000 canadians, according to fighting blindness canada . it is caused by blockages in the drainage canals of the eye that leads to a buildup of pressure that can damage the optic nerve. the new avenue of treatment, published in advanced science , addresses this issue with the injection of a natural, biodegradable hydrogel that holds open an alternative pathway, allowing any excess fluid to escape the eye.
“the holy grail for glaucoma is an efficient way to lower the pressure that doesn’t rely on the patient putting drops in their eyes every day, doesn’t require a complicated surgery, has minimal side effects and has a good safety profile,” said ross ethier, a professor of bioengineering at georgia tech and emory university, according to science daily . “i am excited about this technique, which could be a game-changer for the treatment of glaucoma.”
there are normally two routes by which fluid produced by the eye — also called aqueous humor fluid — exits the eye: through the main pathway at the front of the eye known as the trabecular meshwork or via a smaller path called the suprachoroidal space (scs). in patients with glaucoma, the primary pathway is blocked, forcing researchers to focus on this secondary route.
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the new treatment uses a small, hollow needle to inject a polymer preparation directly into the scs — an area just below the surface of the eye. once inside, this substance chemically crosslinks to produce a hydrogel that holds open a pathway allowing fluid to escape the area, thereby reducing pressure on the eye.
“by opening up that space, we tap a pathway that would not otherwise be utilized efficiently to remove liquid from the eye,” said mark prausnitz, a professor and in the school of chemical and biomolecular engineering at georgia tech.
the treatment, which the researchers said could be performed in a matter of minutes in a doctor’s office, was successful in reducing the pressure in the eyes of animals for months at a time. the team is currently adjusting the polymer material in an attempt to extend the benefits of treatment to six months — the typical amount of time between trips to the doctor for patients.
“if we can get to a twice-a-year treatment, we would not disrupt the current clinical process,” prausnitz said. “we believe the injection could be done as an office procedure during routine exams that the patients are already getting. patients may not need to do anything to treat their glaucoma until their next office visit.”
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there has been no significant inflammation caused by the procedure to date but researchers will still need to demonstrate the treatment can be repeated without causing damage to the eye before they can move on to human testing.
“the idea of having a ‘one-and-done’ treatment that lasts for six months would be particularly helpful for those whose access to healthcare is non-optimal,” ethier said. “having a long-acting therapy would have an additional advantage during times of pandemic or other disruption when access to healthcare is more difficult.”
dave yasvinski is a writer with healthing.ca
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