Hydrogel against glaucoma
The new drug will be a breakthrough in the treatment of glaucoma
Georgy Golovanov, Hi-tech+
Now glaucoma is treated with daily drops, surgery or implants, but none of these methods guarantees success, as a result, the development of the disease can lead to complete blindness. But soon it will be possible to cope with glaucoma by injecting a special hydrogel twice a year, according to scientists from the United States.
Article by Chae et al. Drug‐Free, Nonsurgical Reduction of Intraocular Pressure for Four Months after Suprachoroidal Injection of Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel is published in the journal Advanced Science – VM.
Glaucoma develops when intraocular fluid cannot leave the eye in the usual way. Instead, it accumulates, creating pressure. If it is not removed, the optic nerve will be damaged and blindness will occur.
A healthy eye removes fluid through the trabecular network, which is blocked or damaged in glaucoma patients. Therefore, many types of therapy affect a narrower structure between the front and back of the eye – the suprachoroidal space.
Specialists from The Georgia Institute of Technology has developed an experimental therapy in which tiny drops of a natural polymer – hyaluronic acid – entering the suprachoroidal space form a viscous but non-toxic hydrogel, according to a press release Hydrogel Could Open a New Path for Glaucoma Treatment Without Drugs or Surgery. This gel keeps the canal wide open, allowing intraocular fluid to flow out.
A very small needle less than a millimeter long is used for this procedure, and the entire injection process takes several minutes. In the course of experiments conducted on rabbits, it was found that the effect of one injection lasts four months. At the same time, scientists are convinced that as soon as the technology is worked out, the period will increase to six months.
"The holy grail of glaucoma is an effective way to reduce blood pressure without having to drip the drug every day, without complicated surgery, with minimal side effects and high safety," said Professor Ross Ethier, one of the researchers. "I am very pleased with the appearance of a new method that can be a breakthrough in the treatment of glaucoma."
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