Is Durysta a Bimatoprost Implant for Glaucoma? An In-Depth Analysis

October 8, 2025 •

2 min read

Glaucoma affects approximately 3 million Americans, yet studies show that adherence to daily eye drop medication can be as low as 50%. So, the question arises: Is Durysta a bimatoprost implant for glaucoma that offers a solution to this challenge?

Quick Summary

Durysta is indeed a bimatoprost implant approved by the FDA to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

Key Points

Definitive Answer: Yes, Durysta is a biodegradable, intracameral implant containing the active drug bimatoprost, used for glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
Mechanism: As a prostaglandin analog, bimatoprost lowers eye pressure by increasing the outflow of aqueous humor from the eye.
Administration: It is administered once per eye by a healthcare professional in an in-office procedure; it is not an eye drop.
Key Advantage: Durysta provides sustained medication release for several months, overcoming the common problem of non-adherence with daily glaucoma eye drops.
FDA Approval: The FDA approved Durysta on March 4, 2020, as the first sustained-release implant for reducing intraocular pressure.
Single Use: It is currently approved for only a single implantation per eye without retreatment due to risks like corneal endothelial cell loss.
Common Side Effects: The most frequent side effect is eye redness (conjunctival hyperemia), with other effects including eye pain, light sensitivity, and foreign body sensation.

What is Durysta?

Durysta is an FDA-approved, biodegradable, sustained-release implant designed to manage elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT). Approved on March 4, 2020, it is the first intracameral implant of its kind. The implant, which is rod-shaped and contains 10 mcg of bimatoprost, is inserted into the anterior chamber of the eye and slowly biodegrades over several months, providing a continuous dose of medication. This eliminates the need for daily eye drops and ensures consistent drug delivery.

How Durysta Works: The Mechanism of Action

Durysta's active ingredient, bimatoprost, is a prostaglandin analog. These drugs work by increasing the outflow of aqueous humor from the eye through both the trabecular meshwork and uveoscleral pathways. By improving fluid drainage, the implant lowers IOP and helps protect the optic nerve from damage. The implant is placed in the anterior chamber using a specialized applicator and settles in the inferior angle to release bimatoprost gradually.

Who is a Candidate for Durysta?

Durysta is for patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who may have difficulty with daily eye drop regimens. However, it is not suitable for individuals with:

Active eye infections.
Corneal endothelial cell dystrophy.
A history of corneal transplantation.
An absent or ruptured posterior lens capsule.
Hypersensitivity to bimatoprost or other components.

The FDA has currently approved Durysta for only a single administration per eye, primarily due to the risk of corneal endothelial cell loss.

Durysta vs. Traditional Glaucoma Eye Drops

A key advantage of Durysta is overcoming non-adherence to daily eye drops, a significant issue in glaucoma management.


Feature	Durysta Bimatoprost Implant	Traditional Bimatoprost Eye Drops
Administration	Single in-office procedure by an ophthalmologist	Self-administered daily by the patient
Dosing	Continuous, sustained release over several months	Once or twice daily applications
Adherence	100% adherence is guaranteed post-procedure	Varies greatly; non-adherence is common
Efficacy	Lowers IOP by approximately 30% from baseline	Efficacy depends on consistent, correct application
Preservatives	Preservative-free	Most formulations contain preservatives
Retreatment	Currently approved for single use per eye only	Can be used long-term as prescribed

Potential Side Effects and Risks

Common ocular side effects include conjunctival hyperemia (eye redness) in 27% of patients, foreign body sensation, eye pain, and light sensitivity (5-10% of patients). Other potential issues include corneal endothelial cell loss, blurred vision, iritis, and increased iris pigmentation. Risks associated with the injection procedure, such as inflammation and infection, also exist.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Durysta is a bimatoprost implant for glaucoma and ocular hypertension, offering a sustained-release treatment delivered directly into the eye. This provides a valuable alternative for patients struggling with daily eye drops, ensuring consistent IOP control for several months. While currently limited to a single administration per eye, Durysta represents an important advancement in glaucoma treatment.

For more information, you can visit the official manufacturer's website: https://www.durysta.com/

Frequently Asked Questions

Durysta is a tiny, dissolvable implant approved by the FDA to lower high pressure in the eye for people with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. It contains the medication bimatoprost.

The Durysta implant slowly releases medication over several months. In clinical studies, it was shown to reduce eye pressure for 15 weeks, though some patients may experience effects for longer.

The implant is placed in the eye during a quick, in-office procedure. While some discomfort or redness is expected after administration, the procedure itself is generally not considered painful.

No, Durysta is currently only approved for a single implantation per eye. Retreatment in the same eye is not recommended due to the increased risk of corneal endothelial cell loss.

Durysta is contraindicated in patients with active eye infections, certain corneal conditions like Fuchs' Dystrophy, a history of corneal transplants, or an absent/ruptured posterior lens capsule.

The most common side effect is eye redness (conjunctival hyperemia). Other common side effects include feeling something in the eye, eye pain, light sensitivity, dry eye, and blurred vision.

Durysta is generally covered by many commercial insurance plans. Manufacturer savings programs may also be available for eligible, commercially-insured patients to reduce out-of-pocket costs.