OKC surgeon leads the way with vision-saving glaucoma surgery [Video]

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – An Oklahoma surgeon is among the first in the world to perform a brand new surgery to treat glaucoma.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness around the world. The optic nerve disease affects three million Americans; one in five will go blind, even with treatment.

For the past ten years, researchers have been testing a microscopic device, implanted in the eye to treat glaucoma.

One of the very first FDA-approved procedures in the world was done right here in Oklahoma on February 14, 2024.

LOCAL NEWS: Breakthrough glaucoma surgery starts in Oklahoma

It’s a cutting edge medical advancement called iDose.

“There’s no cure for glaucoma, but the treatments slow the progression down significantly,” said Ophthalmologst Dr. Steve Sarkisian.

Traditionally, glaucoma treatment includes laser procedures, eye surgery and, for most, eye drops.

“I have a saying, ‘Friends don’t let friends be on four bottles of glaucoma eye drops.’” Dr. Sarkisian joked.

For 80 percent …