Xen gel stent
The XEN Gel Stent is a surgical implant designed to lower high eye pressure in open-angle glaucoma patients where previous surgical treatment has failed and/or medications alone were insufficient (also known as refractory glaucoma). XEN is designed to help lower eye pressure and was evaluated in clinical studies that established its safety and effectiveness.
How does the XEN Gel Stent work?
The XEN Gel Stent creates a small channel in the eye to drain fluid and help lower eye pressure. The XEN® Gel Stent is tiny—about the length of an eyelash—and it’s placed just under the conjunctiva, which is a clear membrane that covers the white of your eye.
How long does theXEN Gel Stent last?
The XEN Gel Stent is designed to stay in the eye permanently.
Will I be able to stop using eye drops?
You may or may not need to use glaucoma eye drops after the XEN® procedure. Your doctor will determine your need for eye drops after the XEN® procedure.
Is the XEN® Gel Stent right for me?
As with all procedures, there can be risks, which your doctor will discuss with you. If you have open-angle glaucoma and your previous surgical treatment has failed and/or medications alone were insufficient, your doctor can help you decide if the XEN® Gel Stent is the right choice for you. Individual results may vary
INDICATIONS:
The XEN Glaucoma Treatment System is available for the surgical management of refractory glaucomas, including cases where previous surgical treatment did not work, cases of primary open-angle glaucoma, and cases of pseudoexfoliative or pigmentary glaucoma with open angles that are unresponsive to maximum tolerated medical therapy.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Who should not receive the XEN® Glaucoma Treatment System?
This surgical treatment should not be used if you currently have any of the following: angle-closure glaucoma where the drainage angle of the eye has not been surgically opened; a glaucoma drainage device previously implanted or scarring and pathologies of the conjunctiva (the clear membrane covering the white outer layer of the eye) in the area needed for this implant; eye inflammation (such as inflammation of the eyelids, conjunctiva, cornea, or uvea); abnormal formation of new blood vessels on the iris (the colored part of the eye) surface; artificial lens implanted in the anterior chamber (the space between your cornea, the outer transparent part of the eye, and the iris); silicone oil in your eye; and vitreous (the transparent jelly-like tissue that is found behind the lens) present in the anterior chamber.
What warnings should I be aware of?
XEN Gel Stent complications may include buildup of fluid between the choroid (inner layer of blood vessels) and the sclera (white outer layer of the eyeball), blood in the eye, very low eye pressure, implant moving to another part of the eye, implant exposure, wound leak, need for additional surgical intervention, and other eye surgery complications. The safety and effectiveness of the XEN Gel Stent in neovascular, congenital, and infantile glaucoma has not been established. After the XEN Gel Stent procedure, to help avoid the possibility of implant damage, avoid rubbing or pressing your fingers on the eye in the area where the XEN Gel Stent was implanted.
What precautions should I be aware of?
Before surgery, your doctor will check that the device and injector are not damaged. During surgery, your doctor will stop the procedure if he or she observes increased resistance during implantation and will use a new XEN system. After surgery, your doctor should check and manage your eye pressure appropriately. The safety and effectiveness of implanting more than one XEN Gel Stent in an eye has not been studied.
What are possible side effects?
The most common side effects after surgery include reduction of vision, eye pressure becoming too low, an increase in eye pressure, and need for an additional surgical procedure in the eye to release scar tissue (needling) around the implant under the conjunctiva. Talk to your doctor about other possible side effects.