XEN Gel Stent Specialist

Los Angeles Glaucoma Group

Ophthalmologists & Glaucoma Specialists located in Los Angeles, Culver City, CA & Torrance, CA

The primary directive for any glaucoma specialist is to find ways to relieve intraocular pressure in your eyes. Manufacturers have answered the call with incredibly advanced products that enable fluid to drain properly. Daniel Krivoy, MD, and the team at Los Angeles Glaucoma Group, have studied many of the products and chosen a select few that offer the best chances for success, such as the XEN® Gel Stent. If you’re in Los Angeles, California, and you suffer from glaucoma, call to find out about this pressure-relieving implant.

XEN Gel Stent Q & A

What is the XEN® Gel Stent?

The XEN Gel Stent, which was approved by the FDA in 2016, creates a small channel in your eye to allow drainage, relieving the pressure of fluid buildup. The stent is a tiny tube that becomes soft and flexible after one of our experienced providers inserts it into your eye, which means it works comfortably with the curvature of your eye. The stent itself is 6 millimeters long, and it's about as wide as a human hair.

The XEN Gel Stent is an ideal solution for those diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma that's unresponsive to medication, or who have tried other surgery, with no success.

How is the stent placed?

Our experienced providers place the XEN Gel Stent into your eye during a minimally invasive, in-office procedure. After giving you a local anesthetic, We use a specially-designed applicator that’s pre-loaded with the stent and goes in through your cornea. Then, we gently push the applicator into the area just below your conjunctiva and release the stent using a plunger.

After we remove the applicator, the incision in your cornea seals itself back up.

The stent is made from a gelatin material that’s derived from collagen, which is noninflammatory. Once the stent is placed in your eye, it conforms to fit the space, which minimizes the risk of tissue damage and migration.

What is recovery like?

After your procedure is over, you’re free to go home. You should arrange for someone to drive you, since you may still be under the influence of the local anesthetic. We will send you home with complete aftercare instructions and eye drops to protect against inflammation or infection.

You should avoid bending or lifting, or any activity that causes pressure in your eyes, for a few days to a week after the procedure. A day or two after your initial treatment, you can expect to revisit our experienced providers for a follow up so we can monitor the results.

How long does the XEN Gel Stent last?

The XEN Gel Stent is designed to stay in your eye permanently, providing relief from fluid buildup and pressure.

If you’d like to learn more about this minimally invasive treatment option, call us or book an appointment using the convenient online scheduling tool.

We see patients for Glaucoma, Cataract Surgery, General Ophthalmology, and more. Call Los Angeles Glaucoma Group at our Torrance or Culver City, Ca Location today.