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Novel Glaucoma
Treatment Found
mation, scarring that accom-
novel methodology that
panies surgical failure, bleed-
may eventually be used
ing, infection and sudden visual
for treating glaucoma, a
loss. Moreover, even when suc-
leading cause of blind-
cessful, the intraocular pressure
ness, has been developed by sci-
may increase again after a few
entists at the Weizmann
years, and success rates are par-
Institute. The treatment, de-
ticularly low for repeat opera-
scribed in the March issue of
tions.
Ophthalmology, is expected to
The new technique developed
alleviate the condition through
by Professor Yaron and Dr. Dan
a simple procedure based on an
is based on the application of a
enzyme that does the work of a
specific enzyme called collage-
surgical knife.
nase to a small, well - defined
The scientists,
area of the sclera by
Professor
means of as spe-
Arieh
cially de-
Yaron
signed
and eye
delivery
▪
surgeon
system.
•
Dr. Jacob
This enzyme
Dan, did the ....":
selectively
research with-
destroys
in the frame-
collegen, a
work of the
protein
that
Institute's t ;:'
forms
the
ba-
Depart- ii::
. fj*"0
sis
of
this
hard
ment of ii?..
coat of the eye. But unlike
Membrane
conventional surgery, in which
Research and Biophysics, where
a piece of the sclera is actually
they conducted successful tests
cut out and removed, the en-
on laboratory animals.
zyme only thins the layer, form-
Glaucoma afflicts an esti-
ing a filter through which the
mated 2 percent of the world's
fluid can drain. This minimal-
adult population and is partic-
ly invasive procedure limits the
ularly prevalent among the el-
development of scar tissue and
derly. The condition occurs
should prevent the complica-
when the flow of eye fluid
tions associated with conven-
known as aqueous humor is ob-
tional surgery. Moreover, the
structed, causing an increase in
researchers anticipate virtual-
intraocular pressure. This ex-
ly no risk of blindness, impaired
cessive pressure may damage
vision or cataract formation.
the intraocular portion of the
hi experiments conducted on
optic nerve, leading to impaired
rabbits, the scientists found that
vision and, if untreated, to
this procedure reduced in-
blindness.
traocular pressure significant-
There is no known cure for
ly, and the effect lasted for more
glaucoma, but various treat-
than twice as long as that of
ments may alleviate the in-
conventional surgery performed
traocular pressure by either
on such animals by other re-
reducing the inflow of increas-
search teams. Because there
ing the outflow of aqueous hu-
was only minimal tissue dam-
mor in the eye. However, the
age, the treatment could be re-
standard procedures — which
peated safely even on the same
include drugs as the first choice,
spot.
followed by laser treatment and
A small plastic disc, resem-
finally conventional surgery —
bling a small hard contact lens,
all have major shortcomings.
was developed in order to ad-
Drugs are problematic because
minister the enzyme. This dis-
many patients do not adhere to
posable disc is attached to the
the regimen which calls for a
eye and removed after a few
number of different types of
hours.
medication, taken several times
According to Dr. Dan, the
a day. Laser treatment is not
system could form the basis of
completely safe or effective, and
a simple kit which, if approved
it lowers pressure for only lim-
by
health authorities, could be
ited periods.
administered by an ophthal-
The surgical procedure in-
mologist in his or her office fol-
volves creating a perforation in
lowing appropriate training.
the eye through the sclera, the
It should be emphasized that
hard coat of the eye, so as to
even if initial clinical trials are
form a type of "window" covered
authorized and prove success-
by a thin "flap" through which
ful, it will be some years until
the aqueous humor can escape.
the procedure becomes gener-
Surgery entails many compli-
ally available. ❑
cations, such as cataract for-
A
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