WILLEMSTAD--Curaçao Medical Center (CMC) has introduced a new surgical procedure for patients with advanced glaucoma, becoming the first hospital in the Caribbean to perform the treatment using a specialized implant designed to reduce pressure inside the eye and help prevent further, irreversible vision loss. Eleven patients underwent the procedure last week, with the hospital reporting successful reductions in eye pressure in all cases.
The operations were performed by CMC ophthalmologist Dr. Michael Siban in collaboration with Dr. Gyan Soerjoesing, a specialist who traveled from the Netherlands to assist with introducing the technique.
The development, announced by the hospital this week, represents an expansion of specialized ophthalmological care available in Curaçao, particularly for patients whose glaucoma cannot be adequately controlled through medication or previous treatment.
The procedure involves implanting a device known as the EyePlate 300-S, which helps drain excess fluid from the eye. By improving fluid drainage, the implant reduces intraocular pressure, one of the principal factors associated with progressive damage to the optic nerve.
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, which transmits visual information from the eye to the brain. Elevated pressure within the eye is a major risk factor, although glaucoma can also develop in people whose eye pressure falls within the normal range.
When the optic nerve becomes damaged, patients may gradually lose their peripheral vision. Without effective treatment, the disease can progress to severe visual impairment or permanent blindness.
Unlike some other eye conditions, glaucoma-related vision loss cannot generally be reversed. Treatment therefore focuses on slowing or preventing additional damage and preserving the eyesight that remains.
According to information released by CMC and reported by Curaçao media, the newly introduced implant provides another treatment option for patients with more advanced disease, particularly when conventional therapies have failed to control eye pressure adequately.
New Implant Provides Additional Treatment Option
The EyePlate 300-S procedure is intended to create an alternative pathway for fluid to leave the eye, helping maintain lower internal pressure.
For patients living with advanced glaucoma, reducing eye pressure is particularly important because continued damage to the optic nerve can lead to further deterioration of vision.
CMC reported that all 11 patients experienced a successful reduction in intraocular pressure following their operations. However, longer-term follow-up will be needed to establish how well those improvements are maintained and whether additional treatment is necessary.
The surgery does not restore vision that has already been lost to glaucoma. Its purpose is to preserve remaining sight by reducing the likelihood of further optic nerve damage.
CMC indicated that introducing the procedure required several years of preparation, including specialized professional training.
Dr. Siban has completed additional training in glaucoma surgery, and the hospital intends for him to perform the procedure independently in Curaçao in the future.
The development could reduce the need for some patients to travel abroad to receive specialized glaucoma treatment, although CMC has not yet announced when it expects to begin performing these operations without assistance from visiting specialists.
The hospital has also not indicated how many patients could qualify for the procedure annually.
Glaucoma Presents Particular Concern for Caribbean Communities
The introduction of the procedure is particularly relevant to the Caribbean, where people of African ancestry face an increased risk of developing certain forms of glaucoma.
Family history is another important risk factor. Individuals with a parent or sibling who has glaucoma have a greater likelihood of developing the disease themselves.
According to CMC, glaucoma is frequently diagnosed in Curaçao only after it has reached an advanced stage, when patients may already have experienced significant damage to their eyesight.
One of the principal challenges is that glaucoma often develops gradually and without noticeable symptoms during its early stages. Affected individuals may continue their daily activities without realizing that their peripheral vision is deteriorating.
By the time changes become obvious, some of the damage may already be permanent.
For this reason, the hospital emphasized that advances in surgical treatment must be accompanied by greater attention to early detection and routine eye examinations.
CMC is specifically encouraging people aged 35 and older with a family history of glaucoma to undergo regular examinations by an ophthalmologist.
Such assessments may include measuring eye pressure, examining the optic nerve and conducting visual field tests to identify changes that could indicate developing glaucoma.
The hospital's ophthalmology department already provides diagnostic and treatment services for a range of eye conditions, including cataracts, diabetic eye disease and glaucoma.
