Micro-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) stents are quickly becoming the norm. A new study from Market Scope titled “2019 Glaucoma Surgical Device Market Report,” shows that MIGS stents account for almost half of all glaucoma surgical device revenue in 2019.

This is an even more impressive feat for the devices considering the loss of revenue that occurred from the Cypass Micro-Stent being recalled nearly a year ago. Alcon pulled Cypass off the market after five-year data revealed a higher rate of cell loss compared to patients who had cataract surgery alone.

However, the report said Cypass being pulled off the market did slow down the adoption of MIGS devices and opened the door for other surgical and laser treatments.

There are four FDA-approved MIGS stents: the Glaukos’s iStent and iStent inject, Allergan XEN gel stent, and Ivantis Hydrus. That number could grow as Santen Pharmaceutical’s PreserFlow MicroShunt is the next MIGS device in line for FDA approval, the report said.

Earlier this year, Osaka, Japan-based Santen Pharmaceutical that its U.S. subsidiary entered into a multi-year agreement whereby Glaukos will become the exclusive distributor of the MicroShunt solely in the U.S. market.

Glaukos, known as the pioneer in MIGS, has been pretty busy in 2019. Earlier this month, the San Clemente, CA-based company announced it would acquire Avedro, a hybrid ophthalmic pharmaceutical and medical technology company in an all-stock transaction. The deal is expected to close in 4Q19.

The acquisition is part of a plan Glaukos announced at the 37th annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference to become a hybrid surgical/pharmaceutical/medical device” firm.

The Market Scope Report said Glaukos favors highly in the glaucoma device market which is expected to be just over $700 million. The report said Glaukos is “expected to dominate the market in 2019, with a third of total revenue.”

Eight companies will account for nearly 80% of revenue. They are Glaukos, New World Medical, Allergan, Ivantis, Ellex, Alcon, J&J Vision, and Iridex, according to the report.

Market Scope's report also looks at the renewed interest in canal surgery devices, including the Sight Sciences OMNI, Kahook Dual Blade (KDB), Ellex ABiC for canaloplasty, NeoMedix Trabectome, and New World Medical.

Recently, Rancho Cucamonga, CA-based New World Medical launched the Ahmed ClearPath implant, named after the company’s founder Dr. A. Mateen Ahmed. The device helps drain intraocular pressure in patients.