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  • Wireless IOP transducer appears safe

    By John T. Lind, MD
    Glaucoma

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    This first report on the implantation and functionality of a wireless IOP transducer in a human eye found that it was safe and biocompatible and had good concordance with Goldmann applanation tonometry. 

    The authors write that telemetric IOP assessment through an intraocular device provides several distinct advantages compared with standard applanation tonometry, which may provide significant insight into the role of IOP fluctuation in glaucoma progression: 1) It allows true estimation of IOP independent of corneal biomechanics; 2) makes it possible to record IOP in eyes implanted with a keratoprosthesis; 3) enables self-monitoring of IOP by the patient; and 4) allows for increased frequency at which such measurements can be obtained.

    The authors report their experience with the first implantation of the wireless IOP transducer in a human eye and the 18-month safety and IOP data.

    They implanted the transducer into the ciliary sulcus of one eye of an open-angle glaucoma patient following extracapsular cataract extraction and in-the-bag IOL implantation.

    There were no complications during insertion or postoperatively during 18 months of follow-up and no persistent intraocular inflammation, pigment dispersion or angle narrowing.

    Furthermore, the device showed satisfactory concordance with Goldmann applanation tonometry measurements at both low and high IOP values. However, the authors note that this is a relatively small number of measurements and the degree of concordance will have to be validated by future studies encompassing a larger number of data points.

    They write that although no pigment dispersion was noted in this patient, it remains to be seen whether this would occur with other types of IOLs that may be thicker than the plate device used in this case. A thinner version of the transponder is currently in production to minimize this risk.

    They conclude that further development and study of this technology may allow better understanding of the role of IOP fluctuation in glaucoma progression.