Gel Stents Market By Product Type (Standalone Gel Stents, Combination Stent Systems); By Indication (Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma, Refractory Glaucoma, Secondary Glaucoma); By End User (Hospitals & Specialty Centers, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Ophthalmology Clinics); By Geography, Segment Revenue Estimation, Forecast, 2024–2030

Introduction And Strategic Context

The Global Gel Stents Market will experience a steady growth trajectory, reaching a valuation of USD 1.1 billion in 2024, and is projected to grow to USD 1.8 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 8.4%, according to Strategic Market Research.

 

Gel stents represent a minimally invasive solution in glaucoma surgery — one of the few areas in ophthalmology where device innovation is rapidly replacing older surgical methods. These implants, made of soft, biocompatible hydrogels, help drain aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye into the subconjunctival space, effectively reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma.

 

This is not just a niche innovation — it's a reshaping of standard glaucoma care.

Traditionally, filtration surgeries like trabeculectomy have been the norm, but these come with long recovery times and high complication risks. Gel stents offer a more predictable and faster-recovery option for ophthalmologists treating moderate-to-severe cases. Over the forecast period, this preference shift is expected to accelerate, particularly as aging populations in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia drive a steady rise in glaucoma diagnoses.

 

At the regulatory level, gel stents are receiving broader clinical endorsements. Multiple national guidelines now include gel stent implants as part of standard treatment pathways — especially in patients who do not respond to topical medications or laser trabeculoplasty.

 

In terms of innovation, second-generation gel stents are entering the market with improved material flexibility, longer patency duration, and refined delivery systems. Some manufacturers are integrating AI-guided delivery tools to reduce variability in surgical placement.

 

From a business standpoint, the market is still fairly concentrated. Only a few players dominate commercially, but newer biotech firms and medical device startups are entering with novel bioresorbable materials or hybrid polymer-hydrogel designs.

 

The strategic significance here extends beyond product innovation. Public payers are beginning to acknowledge the long-term cost savings of gel stents — fewer follow-up surgeries, better patient adherence, and reduced medication reliance. This recognition is translating into improved reimbursement models, particularly in the U.S., U.K., and Germany.

 

Stakeholders range from ophthalmic device manufacturers and ambulatory surgery centers to hospital chains, insurance providers, and ophthalmology-focused biotech VCs. Notably, the aging baby boomer population — now entering the highest-risk years for glaucoma — ensures a durable demand curve.

 

Market Segmentation And Forecast Scope

The gel stents market spans a tight yet strategically diverse set of segments — mostly defined by product design, indication severity, end user profile, and regional reimbursement behavior. Here's a breakdown of how the market unfolds and where the momentum is heading.

By Product Type

Gel stents are primarily segmented by the type of material and surgical approach used for implantation:

• Standalone Gel Stents: These are injected using preloaded applicators in micro-invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS). They remain the dominant product type due to ease of use and minimal disruption to the eye’s anatomy.

• Combination Stent Systems: These include gel stents integrated with drug-eluting features or paired with other IOP-reduction implants. While still in early commercialization, this category is growing fast in complex glaucoma cases that require sustained therapy.

Standalone devices account for nearly 71% of market share in 2024, mainly because they align well with outpatient MIGS procedures and offer repeatable surgical outcomes.

 

By Indication

Gel stents are used in managing:

• Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG): This remains the largest and most well-documented clinical use case for gel stents. As medication fatigue and poor compliance rise in older populations, POAG patients are being shifted earlier to surgical interventions.

• Refractory Glaucoma: Includes cases where traditional surgeries or multiple drug regimens have failed. Surgeons often use gel stents as a safer alternative before considering tube shunts or cyclodestructive procedures.

• Secondary Glaucoma: Less common, but in select patients with uveitic or traumatic glaucoma, gel stents provide a more tissue-sparing option.

Among these, POAG dominates usage patterns — representing over 65% of gel stent applications globally.

 

By End User

• Hospitals and Eye Specialty Centers: These dominate procedure volumes. Most gel stent procedures are performed in hospital outpatient departments or dedicated eye surgery suites under mild sedation.

• Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs): Growing in importance, especially in the U.S. and Europe. ASCs benefit from shorter turnaround times, lower overhead, and rising insurance reimbursement for MIGS procedures.

• Ophthalmology Clinics: Still limited in terms of in-house surgical infrastructure, but high-volume clinics are beginning to offer gel stent procedures via affiliated surgery partners.

Eye hospitals continue to be the highest revenue-generating end users, but ASCs are gaining traction due to procedure efficiency and payer support.

 

By Region

• North America: The U.S. is the single largest market due to high glaucoma incidence, reimbursement coverage, and surgeon training programs around MIGS.

• Europe: Germany, the U.K., and France lead adoption, driven by public system approval of gel stents and integration into national treatment guidelines.

• Asia Pacific: Still emerging, but showing strong potential — especially in Japan and South Korea where aging populations and surgical innovation align.

• Latin America and Middle East & Africa: Low market penetration, but public-private partnerships are piloting gel stent use in high-need urban centers.

Europe is currently the fastest-growing regional market, thanks to favorable policy changes and growing procedural trust among ophthalmologists.

 

Market Trends And Innovation Landscape

The gel stents market is quietly becoming one of the most innovation-driven segments in minimally invasive ophthalmology. What started as a single-product niche has now evolved into a platform for smarter materials, drug-device combinations, and precision-guided delivery systems. Here's a look at what’s redefining the space — and where momentum is heading.

Biomaterial Innovation is Getting Smarter

At the core of every gel stent is the material. Early versions used crosslinked hydrogels designed to mimic the eye’s softness and prevent fibrosis. That’s still the foundation — but manufacturers are now tweaking polymer structures for better longevity and more consistent drainage.

Some new entrants are experimenting with shape-memory hydrogels that respond to intraocular pressure changes, expanding or contracting to maintain target IOP ranges. Others are piloting bio-inert coatings to reduce inflammation and post-op scarring — one of the most common causes of surgical failure.

According to surgeons in high-volume European centers , newer-generation stents are reducing post-operative steroid dependency and improving one-year patency rates — a shift that could change follow-up protocols altogether.

 

Combination Therapies are Emerging

There’s rising interest in gel stents that do more than drain fluid. Device developers are exploring drug-eluting gel stents — small molecules or corticosteroids embedded into the hydrogel matrix that release slowly over weeks or months.

This could be a game changer in:

• Reducing postoperative inflammation

• Preventing fibrosis or bleb failure

• Delaying or avoiding adjunctive medications

Though still in early trials, combination stents may soon blur the line between device and therapy — allowing for bundled reimbursement and longer-lasting outcomes.

 

AI and Image-Guided Placement Tools

Precision is everything in gel stent implantation. Some failures occur not because the stent clogs — but because it’s placed a millimeter too shallow or too deep.

To solve this, a few startups are developing AI-guided delivery systems with integrated imaging that helps surgeons visualize stent path in real-time. These tools are being beta tested in high-end surgical centers and may help improve surgeon confidence, particularly in early-career ophthalmologists.

Also on the horizon: augmented reality overlays for ocular surgery that map anatomical targets in real time using pre-op scans. These tools aren’t mainstream yet — but early clinical results are promising.

 

Minimally Invasive Delivery Devices are Shrinking

The push for smaller, faster, and less disruptive surgery is constant. Manufacturers are now rolling out ultra-slim applicators that reduce tissue trauma and improve patient recovery. These next-gen delivery systems also come with ergonomic designs that reduce surgeon fatigue in high-volume practices.

Some devices now support one-handed deployment — a small but meaningful improvement for surgical efficiency, especially in ASCs.

 

IP Landscape is Tightening

One underappreciated trend? The intellectual property race. A handful of players control most patents around hydrogel composition, delivery mechanics, and anti-scarring additives. This is making it harder for new entrants to compete unless they find a novel angle — like biodegradable designs or smart coatings.

Industry watchers suggest the next wave of M&A activity in this market will likely center on IP — not just product performance.

 

Competitive Intelligence And Benchmarking

The gel stents market operates with a narrow vendor base — but within that, the competition is heating up. The differentiation isn’t just about product specs anymore. It’s about clinical data, surgeon experience, reimbursement strategy, and even how well companies train and support ophthalmology teams. Here’s how the leading players are positioning themselves — and why it matters.

Allergan (an AbbVie company)

Still the most recognized name in this market thanks to its flagship gel stent. Allergan benefits from deep brand recognition and the first-mover advantage in most global regions.

Its focus has been on clinical credibility. The company has sponsored multi-year outcome studies, which are now the gold standard for regulatory and reimbursement approval. These studies have helped it lock in hospital protocols and payer preference across North America and Europe.

That said, its innovation pace has slowed slightly compared to emerging rivals experimenting with bio-enhanced materials.

 

Glaukos Corporation

Once a MIGS specialist, Glaukos is now targeting a larger slice of the gel stent space with IOP-lowering implants under development that combine novel polymers and small molecule delivery.

The company’s edge? Integrated procedural training and co-developed surgical tools that make it easier for ophthalmologists to adopt new stent systems. Glaukos also leads in surgeon outreach — including preceptorship programs and peer-reviewed education.

It’s gaining traction in high-volume centers that need reliable outcomes with scalable support.

 

Santen Pharmaceutical

Santen is taking a regional-first strategy. In Japan and parts of Asia Pacific, it's driving market penetration through partnerships with local surgical centers and reimbursement lobbying.

Unlike U.S.-focused rivals, Santen has leaned into Asian population-specific clinical studies — giving it a regulatory advantage in Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.

Its stent designs are also evolving — including shorter-length stents for smaller eyes and models with integrated anti-scarring gel.

 

iSTAR Medical

A rising European biotech, iSTAR has developed a bioresorbable gel stent platform designed for controlled degradation over time. The innovation pitch? Once IOP stabilizes, the implant slowly dissolves — leaving no foreign body behind.

This concept is gaining clinical interest in Europe, especially among younger glaucoma patients or those at risk of bleb-related complications.

The company has yet to secure broad reimbursement coverage, but early-stage adoption by private surgical clinics is noteworthy.

 

New Entrants and Academic Spinouts

Several university-linked startups are entering with experimental designs that combine gel stents with drug-eluting nanoparticles or smart polymers that respond to IOP thresholds. While these are mostly in preclinical or Phase I trials, their backing from surgical faculty and hospital pilots gives them credibility.

A few are partnering with global device distributors rather than launching solo — indicating a strategy of licensing rather than commercialization.

 

Competitive Snapshot

• Allergan owns the volume game but may need to refresh its product roadmap.

• Glaukos leads in procedural integration and surgeon support.

• Santen dominates APAC localization and regulatory traction.

• iSTAR brings innovation with bioresorbable materials and EU-first strategy.

• Startups are pushing the edge with drug-device convergence and adaptive biomaterials.

 

Regional Landscape And Adoption Outlook

Adoption of gel stents doesn’t follow a simple income-based pattern. Instead, it varies by a mix of factors: surgeon familiarity with MIGS techniques, government or payer willingness to reimburse premium implants, and the strength of glaucoma screening programs. While North America still leads in total volume, the fastest momentum is shifting toward specific European and Asia Pacific markets.

North America

The U.S. continues to be the most mature and commercially active market for gel stents. That’s largely due to:

• High glaucoma incidence in older adults

• Widespread adoption of MIGS by ophthalmologists

• Strong reimbursement backing from Medicare and private insurers

• A well-established network of ambulatory surgical centers

Most gel stents here are used in moderate-to-severe POAG cases, especially when patients become noncompliant with medication or fail laser trabeculoplasty. In Canada, the pace of adoption is slower, limited by provincial coverage variability — but select urban centers have begun using gel stents in surgical trials.

What’s notable in the U.S. market is the shift from tertiary hospitals to high-volume outpatient surgical centers. These sites are driving demand for faster procedures and high-consistency implants, a trend that's shaping product design and delivery tools.

 

Europe

Europe is currently the fastest-growing regional market. Countries like Germany, the UK, and France have formally integrated gel stents into glaucoma treatment guidelines, which has boosted clinician confidence and payer willingness.

• In Germany, university hospitals are running comparative outcome studies on gel stents vs. traditional surgeries — building strong academic backing.

• In the UK, the NHS has approved gel stents for use in specific glaucoma severity brackets.

• Southern Europe is still catching up but expected to scale by 2026 as procurement and training improve.

The regulatory climate is also more innovation-friendly — meaning new stent designs can move from CE mark to clinical use faster than in the U.S.

Ophthalmologists in Western Europe tend to view gel stents not as a last resort — but as a viable first-line intervention after medications fail.

 

Asia Pacific

The APAC region is a mixed story — high need, growing infrastructure, but uneven adoption.

• Japan and South Korea lead in MIGS-friendly surgical ecosystems. These countries have aging populations, advanced ophthalmology practices, and strong national health insurance systems. Both are seeing steady uptake in urban centers and academic hospitals.

• India and China are at an earlier stage. In China, gel stents are currently used mostly in private hospitals due to cost. But as glaucoma prevalence rises, public centers are testing gel stents as part of pilot programs in top-tier cities.

• Meanwhile, India is developing low-cost stent alternatives in academic labs, and companies are positioning themselves for frugal innovation — bioequivalent materials, lower unit costs, and reusable delivery systems.

Across the region, training remains a bottleneck. Only a fraction of ophthalmic surgeons are MIGS-proficient, which limits widespread use even when product availability improves.

 

Latin America, Middle East, and Africa (LAMEA)

• In Latin America, Brazil and Mexico are leading adoption due to their sizable private health sector and surgeon exposure to global conferences. Still, usage is largely restricted to wealthier urban clinics.

• In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are investing in ophthalmology modernization — including access to MIGS platforms — but gel stents remain a niche.

• Africa is early-stage. A few teaching hospitals in South Africa and Kenya have piloted gel stents through NGO partnerships. That said, most glaucoma surgeries across the continent still use conventional methods, and product access remains sparse.

Realistically, LAMEA is not a volume driver today — but may become a target region for second-wave, cost-sensitive gel stents.

 

Regional Takeaway

• North America : Most mature, with solid payer support and ASC expansion

• Europe : Fastest-growing, driven by clinical endorsement and public procurement

• Asia Pacific : High potential, but fragmented by cost and training limitations

• LAMEA : Early-stage, with small-scale pilots and long-term opportunity

The regional story isn’t about where gel stents are approved — it’s about where they’re trusted. And that trust, especially among surgeons and payers, is what defines market velocity.

 

End-User Dynamics And Use Case

The decision to use a gel stent doesn’t rest solely on its clinical performance — it’s shaped by the priorities, constraints, and workflow realities of the people who actually adopt it. End users range from large surgical hospitals to lean outpatient centers, and each brings a different lens to how these implants are integrated into glaucoma care.

Ophthalmology-Focused Hospitals and Academic Centers

These are the primary drivers of gel stent procedures today.

• Typically equipped with MIGS-trained surgeons

• House specialized glaucoma departments

• Operate under strict outcome monitoring protocols

Most first-time gel stent evaluations and longitudinal studies are happening in these centers. Their value equation isn't just patient volume — it's also about contributing to procedural standardization and publication-driven clinical validation.

Because these hospitals often deal with complex or medication-refractory glaucoma, they are the first to trial newer generation stents, combination implants, or training modules tied to delivery devices.

 

Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs)

In markets like the U.S., ASCs are now handling a growing share of outpatient glaucoma surgeries. Their draw?

• Faster patient turnover

• Lower overhead costs

• Increasing insurance support for MIGS

That said, ASC adoption depends heavily on surgeon confidence. Because gel stents require precise placement, centers often bring in high-experience ophthalmologists or require device manufacturers to provide on-site training during the early phase.

Some manufacturers now tailor gel stent delivery systems for ASC workflows — with ergonomic, one-handed applicators and shorter prep time.

What’s fueling the ASC momentum isn’t just technology — it’s procedural repeatability. The easier it is to do the surgery well, the more likely ASCs are to adopt it system-wide.

 

High-Volume Ophthalmology Clinics

These clinics often refer patients to partner surgery centers for gel stent implantation but play a key role in:

• Identifying eligible candidates

• Handling pre- and post-operative care

• Influencing long-term treatment decisions

In certain regions, clinics are beginning to invest in minor surgical suites, bringing simple MIGS procedures in-house. This is still early, but it hints at a potential future where gel stent placement becomes a clinic-based procedure in select patient populations.

 

Integrated Health Systems and Payers

While not performing the procedures, these stakeholders shape utilization patterns through:

• Reimbursement policy

• Volume-based procurement

• Outcomes tracking

Some U.S. payers have begun to include gel stents in glaucoma care pathways for patients who fail two medications. In Europe, bundled procedure pricing models are emerging — meaning the stent, surgery, and post-op meds are priced together.

For these stakeholders, predictable outcomes and fewer re-interventions matter more than cutting-edge innovation.

 

Use Case Highlight

A regional ophthalmology hospital in South Korea had been managing a growing caseload of older glaucoma patients who were noncompliant with topical medications. Many had poor vision in one eye, making the stakes for intervention higher.

After a six-month internal audit, the surgical team adopted gel stents as the default for all patients failing two medications — particularly those with mild-to-moderate POAG. Within 12 months:

• Post-operative IOP control stabilized faster

• Medication reliance dropped by 40%

• Surgical time per case fell by nearly 25% after the first 30 implants

• Patient satisfaction, measured through follow-up compliance, rose notably

The team now uses a standardized gel stent protocol for these cases — and is participating in a broader regional outcomes study on real-world effectiveness.

 

Recent Developments + Opportunities & Restraints

Recent Developments (Last 2 Years)

• iSTAR Medical announced positive mid-term clinical results from its STAR-II trial evaluating a bioresorbable gel stent in open-angle glaucoma patients across Europe. Results showed sustained IOP reduction with minimal post-op interventions.

• Allergan (AbbVie) expanded its surgeon training program across North America, launching a mobile simulation platform aimed at improving stent placement consistency in ambulatory settings.

• Glaukos Corporation entered Phase II development of a novel gel stent + drug combination designed for sustained-release anti-scarring therapy post-implantation.

• Santen launched an Asia Pacific MIGS registry to track real-world outcomes of gel stent procedures across Japan, Singapore, and Australia.

• University-led startups in the U.K. and South Korea began pre-clinical testing of shape-memory gel stents for adaptive IOP regulation — designed to expand/contract based on pressure fluctuations.

 

Opportunities

• Bioadaptive and Bioresorbable Materials: Innovation in dynamic hydrogels and degradable implants is opening doors for safer, smarter devices — particularly appealing for younger patients and early-stage glaucoma cases.

• ASC-Focused Delivery Tools: Manufacturers that design devices for high-efficiency surgical centers — with ergonomic, quick-deploy applicators — can capture growing ASC demand in the U.S. and EU.

• Expansion in Public Sector Hospitals (Asia and LATAM): As public systems in India, Brazil, and Indonesia begin approving MIGS procedures, there's an untapped volume opportunity for cost-sensitive gel stents with basic training modules.

 

Restraints

• Surgeon Learning Curve: Even experienced ophthalmologists face a learning curve with gel stent placement, which can affect adoption in smaller centers without dedicated training support.

• Cost Justification in General Hospitals: In many mid-tier hospitals, high upfront costs and unclear long-term savings of gel stents vs. medications or trabeculectomy make procurement harder without bundled value cases.

 

7.1. Report Coverage Table

Report Attribute	Details
Forecast Period	2024 – 2030
Market Size Value in 2024	USD 1.1 Billion
Revenue Forecast in 2030	USD 1.8 Billion
Overall Growth Rate	CAGR of 8.4% (2024 – 2030)
Base Year for Estimation	2024
Historical Data	2019 – 2023
Unit	USD Million, CAGR (2024 – 2030)
Segmentation	By Product Type, Indication, End User, Geography
By Product Type	Standalone Gel Stents, Combination Stent Systems
By Indication	Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma, Refractory Glaucoma, Secondary Glaucoma
By End User	Hospitals & Specialty Centers, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Ophthalmology Clinics
By Region	North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa
Country Scope	U.S., Canada, Germany, U.K., France, Japan, China, India, Brazil, South Korea
Market Drivers	- Growing preference for minimally invasive glaucoma surgery - Favorable reimbursement and clinical outcomes in developed markets - Innovation in bioresorbable and combination gel stent platforms
Customization Option	Available upon request