What iDose TR is
iDose TR (travoprost intracameral implant) is a prescription glaucoma medication in a different form. Instead of a drop you put in every day, the medication sits in a tiny titanium implant placed inside the eye, at the drainage angle where the iris meets the cornea. From there it releases travoprost, a well-established pressure-lowering medicine, continuously, day and night.
It is approved by the FDA to lower eye pressure in people with open-angle glaucoma, the most common type, and in people with ocular hypertension, meaning high eye pressure without glaucoma damage yet. It works the way glaucoma drops do, by lowering pressure, and it is not a cure for glaucoma.
Why lowering eye pressure matters
High eye pressure can damage the optic nerve, the cable that connects the eye to the brain. That damage causes a slow, painless loss of side vision that most people do not notice until it is advanced, and vision lost to glaucoma does not come back. Lowering pressure is the one proven way to protect the vision you have.
Drops lower pressure well, but only on the days they are used. Missed doses are one of the most common reasons glaucoma keeps progressing. A treatment that delivers medication without relying on a daily routine can make steady control easier to keep.
Who it can help
iDose TR may be an option if you need ongoing treatment for eye pressure and daily drops are hard to keep up with, for example if you:
- Forget doses, or find it hard to keep track of several drops on a schedule
- Have trouble getting drops into the eye because of arthritis, a tremor or poor eyesight
- Have redness, stinging or irritation from your drops
- Rely on someone else to help put your drops in
It is not suitable for everyone. iDose TR should not be used if you have an infection in or around the eye, corneal endothelial cell dystrophy (such as Fuchs dystrophy), a previous corneal transplant, narrow angles, or an allergy to any of its ingredients. Your exam checks for each of these, including the health of the cornea's inner cell layer.
Glaucoma eye drop alternatives, compared
Drops are not the only way to lower eye pressure. The main options, and where iDose TR fits:
- Prescription eye drops: the traditional first treatment, used once or more each day for as long as they are needed
- SLT laser: a short office laser that improves drainage; many patients can reduce or delay drops, and it can be repeated when its effect fades
- iDose TR: medication delivered from an implant inside the eye, for long-term pressure control with less dependence on daily drops; it can be done on its own, without cataract surgery
- MIGS stents: tiny devices that improve the eye's natural drainage, most often placed during cataract surgery
- Traditional glaucoma surgery: reserved for advanced or uncontrolled glaucoma and arranged with a glaucoma subspecialist
These are not either-or choices. Many patients use a combination over the years, and the right plan depends on the type and stage of glaucoma, your target pressure, your other eye conditions and what fits your life. We go through the options with you at your evaluation.
The procedure: an implant for high eye pressure
Placement is a short, minimally invasive procedure. The eye is numbed, and the implant is placed through a tiny incision at the edge of the cornea and anchored at the drainage angle, where it stays. You are awake, the procedure takes minutes, and most patients go home the same day.
The medication begins working right away. Expect a few days of mild irritation or blurred vision, and a check soon afterward to look at your pressure and the implant's position. Individual results vary.
After the implant: what stays the same
iDose TR reduces dependence on daily drops; it does not end glaucoma care. Some patients still need one or more drops to reach their target pressure. Glaucoma is lifelong, so regular visits continue, with pressure checks, OCT imaging of the optic nerve and visual field tests at the intervals your doctor recommends.
How long pressure stays controlled varies from person to person, which is why it is measured at every visit. If pressure starts to rise again, the options include drops, laser or, since the FDA approved repeat treatment in January 2026, another iDose TR in eyes whose cornea remains healthy.
Risks and important safety information
Like any procedure inside the eye, iDose TR carries some risk. In clinical trials the most common side effects, each seen in about 2 to 6 percent of patients, were a rise in eye pressure, inflammation of the iris, dry eye, loss of part of the visual field, eye pain, eye redness and reduced vision. Medications of this type can darken the colored part of the eye, and this change is likely to be permanent. Your doctor monitors the implant's position at follow-up visits.
This is a summary, not the full safety information. Ask your doctor about the benefits and risks for your eyes, and read the full Prescribing Information at idosetr.com. You can report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or fda.gov/medwatch. iDose is a registered trademark of Glaukos Corporation.
Is this right for your eyes?
Nothing on this page is a diagnosis. Whether this is the right choice for you is decided by a full examination at one of our 4 offices: Pasadena, Huntington Beach, Woodland Hills and Beverly Hills.
About this content: This page was written with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed for medical accuracy by our physicians. It is general information, not medical advice, and does not replace an eye examination. Individual results vary. Read our medical disclaimer.
