A new non-surgical option could mark a turning point in the treatment of glaucoma
Vissum Grupo Miranza has Eyetronic technology, which, through electrical stimulation, is able to activate inactive nerve cells in the optic nerve to restore vision
A new step forward in the fight against glaucoma. Miranza’s clinic in Alicante has become the first in Spain to incorporate Eyetronic technology, a device that uses non-invasive electrical stimulation to activate inactive nerve cells in the optic nerve of patients with glaucoma.
This treatment, which is being successfully tested at Vissum Grupo Miranza, aims to improve cellular metabolism, preserve visual function and, in certain cases, recover part of the lost vision.
According to Dr. Lucía Rial, glaucoma specialist at Vissum Grupo Miranza, “the use of Eyetronic changes the concept of a disease that has been considered irreversible until now.” The specialist adds that the technology makes it possible to treat damaged ganglion cells with the goal of improving parameters such as visual field, visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and patients’ quality of life.
How Eyetronic Works
Eyetronic uses safe, non-invasive electrical stimulation to reactivate inactive nerve cells, helping improve visual function. The device is marketed in Europe with a CE certificate, and it is also beginning to be used in other countries, with several clinical trials underway.
The effects of the treatment are progressive: although a more complete and accurate assessment is performed after three months, some patients report earlier improvements in visual field and light perception, especially younger individuals.
The treatment consists of ten consecutive sessions, each lasting between 60 and 90 minutes. This is the first time that some degree of reversibility has been observed in a disease affecting the optic nerve—the nerve that connects the eye to the brain—whose nerve fibers are damaged by glaucoma, causing progressive vision loss that has, until now, been considered irreversible.
The team applying the treatment, currently in a trial phase at Vissum Grupo Miranza, is made up of two technicians and Dr. Rial, who work together to ensure the correct application of the device (similar to virtual-reality goggles, from which the electrical stimulation of the optic nerve is delivered) and to optimize results.
SLT laser, another alternative against glaucoma
In addition to embracing innovation with Eyetronic, Miranza has also incorporated SLT laser (selective laser trabeculoplasty) in several of its clinics—a technique mainly aimed at reducing intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. This laser acts on the trabecular meshwork, the area through which the aqueous humor drains (the clear, watery fluid produced continuously inside the eye to nourish the cornea and the lens, and which, in glaucoma patients, does not drain properly), thereby improving its function.
The procedure is quick, painless, and outpatient-based, performed in the clinic in just about ten minutes. It is generally safe and well tolerated, allowing for smooth recovery without the need for special post-treatment care.
“The current trend is to start with laser instead of eye drops, as it keeps the disease more stable and reduces the need for filtering surgeries,” explains Dr. Lucía Rial. Moreover, treatments with drops are not free from side effects or long-term adherence issues.
