For decades, the daily eye drop has been the cornerstone of glaucoma treatment. It’s also one of the biggest reasons patients struggle to keep their disease under control. At Horizon Eye Care, Dr. Stein is among the first surgeons in the region to offer patients a different path forward: iDose TR, a first-of-its-kind implant that delivers glaucoma medication continuously from inside the eye.
The Hidden Burden of Eye Drops
Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss, and for most patients, daily prescription eye drops are the first line of defense against rising eye pressure. But drops come with a catch: they only work if patients use them correctly, consistently, for years at a time and research shows that’s a difficult standard to meet.
~50%
of patients stop taking their glaucoma drops within 6 months of starting therapy
1 in 2
patients on long-term glaucoma drops develop signs of ocular surface disease
3+
common side effects linked to chronic drop use: redness, irritation, and eyelid/skin changesBeyond the inconvenience, chronic drop use can cause real, visible side effects, eye redness (hyperemia), thinning of the fat around the eyes, ocular surface disease, and changes in eye color or skin pigmentation around the lids. For patients already managing a lifelong condition, those side effects can be the very reason they stop treatment, which, left unaddressed, puts their vision at further risk.
A New Option: iDose TR
iDose TR (travoprost intracameral implant) is an FDA-approved, first-of-its-kind procedural treatment for open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Instead of asking patients to remember a drop every day, iDose TR is placed directly in the eye during a brief in-office procedure and continuously releases medication around the clock, with a single implant designed to provide years of pressure-lowering therapy.
- Continuous, 24/7 delivery – no daily dosing to remember or miss.
- In-office procedure – performed as a quick, minimally invasive implant placement.
- Removes the adherence question – the medication works whether or not the patient thinks about it that day.
- FDA-approved for the reduction of intraocular pressure in open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
Why it matters for long-term eye health
Uncontrolled eye pressure is the single biggest modifiable risk factor in glaucoma progression. Treatments that reduce the gap between “prescribed” and “actually taken” have the potential to meaningfully change outcomes for patients who have struggled with drops in the past.Dr. Stein's Experience
Dr. Stein has already performed multiple iDose TR procedures for glaucoma patients at Horizon Eye Care, giving the practice firsthand, real-world experience with the technology, not just familiarity with the clinical trial data. As more of our surgeons train on the procedure, Horizon Eye Care is positioning itself as one of the area’s leading practices for interventional glaucoma care.
As a glaucoma surgeon, I offer iDose TR because I believe in incorporating innovative technology into patient care when it has the potential to meaningfully change how we manage glaucoma. Its sustained, drop-free approach represents a potential paradigm shift in treatment, and I’ve seen how simplifying therapy can positively impact patients’ treatment experience and help preserve vision long-term.
