In this episode of The Interventional Glaucoma Podcast, Dr. Cathy McCabe, Dr. Mark Gallardo, and Mr Dan Lindfield delve into the post-operative care and expectations following the ELIOS™ procedure, highlighting the similarities to routine cataract surgery and long-term outcomes in IOP and medication reduction.
The Interventional Glaucoma Podcast
Episode 7: ELIOS Explained: Post-operative Pearls
Key Takeaways
- The ELIOS Treatment: ELIOS is a precise and minimally invasive treatment option for glaucoma. The device uses excimer laser technology via a small probe to create microchannels in the trabecular meshwork, providing effective intraocular pressure reduction with minimal tissue damage.
- Post-operative Care: Post-surgery, ELIOS is very similar to routine cataract surgery in terms of medication, recovery time, and visual improvement. Most surgeons follow their standard drop regime after surgery.
- Minimizing Drops: The surgeons highlight that the decision to stop glaucoma medications depends on individual patient factors and surgical outcomes, but report that many patients can be taken off of their glaucoma medications either immediately, or shortly after surgery. 80% of patients are reported medication-free one year after surgery.1
- Patient Outcomes: Data suggests a stable pressure-lowering effect up to eight years post-procedure, and up to four years with significant reduction in medication.2
- Protecting the TM: Surgeons highlight the procedure’s precise method for reducing IOP with minimal collateral damage to the trabecular meshwork, allowing for future interventions if necessary.
- Data that Speaks for Itself: Long-term data supports the efficacy and safety of ELIOS, and ongoing studies, including head-to-head comparisons with other MIGS devices, aim to further validate these findings.
Guests
Dr. Cathleen McCabe
Dr. Cathleen McCabe serves as the Chief Medical Officer at Eye Health America and is a cataract and refractive specialist who regularly performs MIGS procedures. She is one of the foremost eye surgeons today, performs thousands of cataracts a year, and is an early adopter of new ophthalmic technologies that improve patient QOL. Dr. McCabe was recently honored for being on the Global Top 100 Power List for 2021 and 2022.
Dr. Mark Gallardo
Dr. Mark Gallardo is a cataract and glaucoma surgeon based in El Paso, Texas. He is a recognized expert in micro-invasive glaucoma surgery and is routinely invited to lecture at multiple major national and international ophthalmic conferences to share his knowledge. He is widely published in the peer-reviewed medical literature and is the principal investigator for multiple ongoing clinical trials in the fields of cataract and glaucoma surgery.
Mr Dan Lindfield
Mr Dan Lindfield is a consultant ophthalmologist and cataract surgeon in Guildford and Farnham who specialises in cataracts and glaucoma surgery, including laser therapies for glaucoma, such as SLT, trabeculectomy, and minimally-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). He has an extensive portfolio of research and academic work which is published in leading peer-reviewed journals.
Additional Resources
References:
- Combined excimer laser trabeculostomy and phacoemulsification: one year follow-up real world data of a laser-based MIGS
- Long-term treatment success and safety of combined phacoemulsification plus excimer laser trabeculostomy: an 8-year follow-up study
Follow Dr. Cathleen McCabe on social:
Dr Cathleen McCabe | LinkedIn
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Dr Mark Gallardo | LinkedIn
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Mr Dan Lindfield | LinkedIn
Episode 10: Glaucoma Management Five Years From Now
Dr. Karl Mercieca, Dr. Gok Ratnarajan, and Dr. Ana Miguel discuss the future of glaucoma management.
Episode 9: Physician experiences with ELIOS and the rationale for routinely combining MIGS with cataract surgery
Dr Jose Belda, Dr María Isabel Canut, and Dr Marta Ibarz discuss the rationale and benefits of routinely combining MIGS with cataract surgery.
Episode 8: TM-MIGS: Impact on patient quality of life
Professor Christophe Baudouin, Mr Gok Ratnarajan, and Dr Ana Miguel discuss the impact of glaucoma treatments on patients' quality of life.