MIGS procedures use microscopic-sized equipment and tiny incisions. While they reduce the incidence of complications, some degree of effectiveness is also traded for increased safety. Nevertheless, current MIGS devices serve an unfilled niche given the alternative traditional treatments:
- Eye drops have shown poor patient compliance and have side effects.
- Laser therapy has a high failure rate.
- Trabeculectomies are no longer seen as a valid option for most patients, according to Meddevicetracker.com.
Since MIGS involves placing a permanent implant into the eye, it circumvents the major issue plaguing glaucoma medication, which is patient non-compliance, and provides a safe, effective therapy for preventing permanent vision loss in refractory glaucoma patients.