The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has approved a glaucoma device made by Laguna Hills-based Glaukos Corp.
The iStent is inserted through a small corneal incision made during cataract surgery and is designed to provide sustained intraocular pressure reduction—a key symptom of glaucoma, which is a major cause of blindness.
Glaukos, which is publicly traded, received Food and Drug Administration approval for iStent in 2012 and is now approved for sale in 27 countries.
It announced the approval on Monday. Shares of the company closed up 9% today to a market value of $557 million.
