Allergan, one of the world’s leading pharmaceuticals companies announced today the launch of a new surgical treatment for refractory glaucoma in the United Arab Emirates.
The XEN Gel Implant is intended to reduce intraocular pressure in patients with primary open angle glaucoma where previous medical treatments have failed.
There have been several surgical options available to glaucoma patients which can be invasive. XEN is less invasive and offers a much faster recovery than traditional glaucoma surgery. Unlike the most commonly performed glaucoma operation, called trabeculectomy, there is no need for sutures and the return of clear vision is more rapid.
Dr. Dr Abdulla Naqi, consultant ophthalmologist, Dubai Hospital said, “For most people, glaucoma has no symptoms or early warning signs. Vision loss may not be noticeable at first because it starts gradually at the outer edges of the field of view. It may take years for noticeable sight loss to occur. Because the symptoms of open-angle glaucoma are so subtle, it’s important to have regular eye exams. Screening for glaucoma usually starts with a simple, painless test to measure the eye pressure. Patients are examined to evaluate the fluid drainage from the eye, and the optic nerve to identify any signs of damage. Additional tests of the vision and imaging tests of the optic nerve are also helpful to detect the disease.”
“In the UAE, glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness, often going unnoticed until it causes loss of vision. Across the country, more awareness is needed to drive early detection and proper treatment to ultimately help reduce the pressure inside the eye. This is because diagnosing glaucoma at an early stage is essential. We encourage people to go for eye check-ups as frequently and easily as they do for blood pressure and general health checks. Testing for glaucoma is both quick and painless. This new innovative technique and launch in the UAE marks a milestone in the treatment of glaucoma patients with the latest technology. The UAE is the leading country to adopt this innovation in the Middle East, which further helps us to deliver on the National Agenda and the vision 2021, to establish a world class healthcare infrastructure.”
Djamshid Ghavami, Allergan’s Gulf General Manger also noted, “Allergan has a deep, long-term commitment to developing treatments for patients with glaucoma, a sight-threatening disease that affects millions worldwide. With the launch of this innovative treatment system, patients in the UAE and the region will have access to a new treatment option for patients struggling to bring down their intraocular pressure.”
“For over 70 years, Allergan has been a leader in the eye care sector, delivering some of the most innovative products and treatments for the most prevalent eye conditions including glaucoma, ocular surface disease, and retinal diseases such as diabetic macular edema and retinal vein occlusion. Our aim is to continue driving our medication innovation in the UAE and wider region with the underlying objective of creating sustainable solutions for patients,” added Ghavami.
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, the health of which is vital for good vision. This damage is often caused by an abnormally high pressure in the eye. It is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60. In the UAE, 40,000 patients out of a pool of 250,000 are receiving the right treatment. This reflects the continued need to drive awareness across the country.
