May 11, 2017 – Kevin Pikey, D.O., of Sabates Eye Centers was the first surgeon to be certified in the implementation of the CyPass Micro-Stent in the Kansas City area on May 11, 2017. The CyPass shunt is a minimally invasive device designed to reduce intraocular pressure in adults with mild to moderate glaucoma. The FDA has also approved the CyPass system to be used in combination with cataract surgery.
The CyPass Micro-Stent device is implanted during cataract surgery. It is designed to lower intraocular pressure by enhancing aqueous outflow through one of the natural drainage pathways of the eye, with minimal tissue disruption, which allows the excess fluid in the eye to drain.
The procedure will complement the category of Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery, or MIGS, and add to the surgeon’s arsenal of tools to combat this disease.
“This procedure can help provide excellent outcomes for patients,” Dr. Pikey said. “We are excited to share this technology with the region.”
More than 60 million people globally are affected by glaucoma that can lead to progressive damage of the optic nerve. Early diagnosis of glaucoma is critical to manage the disease, as it is often asymptomatic and therefore can go undetected until it is at an advanced stage. As the disease progresses, patients may experience loss of peripheral (side) vision, tunnel vision or eye spots. Glaucoma can eventually result in gradual, irreversible loss of vision and blindness. The exact cause of glaucoma is unknown.
“Glaucoma is the second-leading cause of blindness in the world, behind only cataracts,” says Dr. Pikey. “We are excited to be part of new procedures that give patients more access to technologies that can help curb this disease.”
