Baton Rouge, LA (April 5, 2017) – Dr. Blake Williamson of the Williamson Eye Center in Baton Rouge becomes the first eye surgeon in Louisiana to perform a revolutionary new micro-invasive glaucoma stent procedure using the Xen Gel Stent from Allergan Surgical for treatment of patients who have glaucoma and are currently being managed with medication.
Glaucoma is an eye condition involving increased pressure inside the eye which can cause damage to the optic nerve resulting in vision loss & possible blindness. Glaucoma affects over 2 million people in the United States and is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide behind cataracts. Patients usually require medical treatment for life with glaucoma medications in order to try to control their disease. Many patients either fail in treatment or cannot afford the high costs of medication.
In recent years, doctors have devised a new approach called micro-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) in order to reduce glaucoma pressure & reduce or eliminate the need for medicines. Dr. Blake Williamson has been a leader in this new field of MIGS surgery & has been the first surgeon to introduce a number or new MIGS devices & procedures in Louisiana. The XEN Gel STENT is a microscopic Gel stent that is about the size of a human hair. This device can be implanted in an office outpatient surgery under local sedation. The procedure is the first of its kind to control the pressure by placing a stent to direct the flow of fluid into an alternative path in the eye that had previously been used only in larger more invasive procedures for glaucoma. Bypassing the blocked outflow tracts allows reduction of the intraocular pressure to bring glaucoma under control.
Dr. Williamson performed the first surgeries on 5 patients today with representatives from Allergan International in attendance to witness the first XEN Gel Stents performed in Louisiana. According to Dr. Williamson, “We believe the new XEN will quickly become a new standard of care in glaucoma treatment worldwide. I am excited to add it to our armamentarium of MIGS procedures.” Dr. Williamson is a frequent lecturer & author in the field of micro-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS).
The Williamson Eye Center is one of the South’s largest and most prestigious eye centers with 4 offices, an outpatient surgery center, 10 doctors and over 100 employees.
