The future of glaucoma, exciting advancements on the horizon
In part 4 of a 4-part panel discussion, optometrists Drs. Schweitzer, Bloomenstein, Dunbar, and Ibach close out the conversation by discussing what they’re most excited about in the advancement of glaucoma care.
Justin Schweitzer, OD:
This is going to be rapid fire, but I got to hear from you guys. What are you most excited about in the glaucoma space, whether it’s technology, whether it’s treatment? What is the thing that excites you the most for the future or right now? Mitch, you’re going first.
Mitch Ibach, OD:
Oh, gosh. I wanted to go last. OPAP, ocular pressure adjusting pump. This is a pair of goggles that patients wear at night analogous to a CPAP and it is the only non-pharmacologic, non-surgical option that will lower the eye pressure in every single patient.
Justin Schweitzer, OD:
Mark with a D, Dunbar?
Mark Troy Dunbar, OD:
No. I mean, Mitch, I know you guys are around John Berdahl and he’s one of the founders of that. I love the idea of lowering pressure without a drop, a laser or a surgery, and I think that’s exciting. I’ll pick something different. I think genetics, I think we’re on the cusp of learning more about genetic advances, who’s at risk. I’m not sure patients are quite ready to buy into genetics. Certainly, we look at AMD and some of the other things where we don’t really have quite the buy in. But gosh, if you could know who those high-risk patients are, wouldn’t that be great to really maybe treat those before they’ve already lost a ton of vision?
Marc Bloomenstein, OD:
I’ll dovetail off what Dunbar said. Sadly though Mark, the web, what was it, 23andMe…
Mark Troy Dunbar, OD:
Just filed bankruptcy, I know.
Marc Bloomenstein, OD:
…That puts a little bit of a nail in that coffin maybe. But dovetailing off what you said, early detection. I’m thinking AI, in and around looking at algorithms, being developed, looking at pictures. I know Topcon and I think is it Microsoft? I mean, these guys have some real great opportunities for us to be able to scan, take pictures, and then AI be able to refine that. It goes back to earlier treatments, earlier diagnosis. I’m excited about the artificial intelligence.
Justin Schweitzer, OD:
I love all those, all 3 of them. I’m going to stick with the drug delivery market. There’s some exciting things for optometry, some contact lens things being looked at, some intracanalicular inserts. I’m hopeful that that’ll continue to drive optometry to manage and treat glaucoma. I want to thank the three of you for taking time to join me for a really fun and robust discussion around glaucoma on Optometry 360. Thank you to all our viewers for joining us and spending some time with us.
