Albany, New York—May, 30 2019

Allen W. Zieker, M.D., President and Director of Cataract Surgery at Ophthalmic Consultants of the Capital Region, is the first surgeon in the entire Northeast, including New York City, to implant the DEXTENZA® device in ophthalmic surgery patients.

DEXTENZA, from the biopharmaceutical company Ocular Therapeutix™, Inc., was approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on December 3, 2018 for the treatment of pain following ophthalmic surgery. DEXTENZA is the first of its kind—a corticosteroid intracanalicular insert placed in the punctum, a natural opening in the eyelid, and into the canaliculus at the time of surgery. The implant is designed to deliver dexamethasone to the ocular surface for up to 30 days without the use of preservatives.

The slow release of medication to the eye eliminates the need for steroid drops following surgery. For patients, DEXTENZA offers the convenience of a full course of post-surgical steroid treatment with a physician’s one-time placement of this single intracanalicular insert. DEXTENZA has the potential to replace a complex eye drop regimen that under the current standard of care requires up to 70 topical ocular steroid drops. Following treatment, DEXTENZA resorbs and exits the nasolacrimal system without the need for removal.

Not only is Dr. Zieker the first surgeon in upstate New York to utilize the DEXTENZA device, but he is also one of only 10 surgeons in the United States to currently administer it to patients.

“I’m excited that this insert will not only effectively manage ocular pain following surgery for my patients, but that it will also make the post-operative experience significantly easier and worry-free,” said Dr. Allen Zieker.

About Ophthalmic Consultants of the Capital Region

At Ophthalmic Consultants of the Capital Region, we offer a comprehensive model of eye care with experienced specialists, ophthalmologists & optometrists.  We have 5 convenient locations in Albany, Clifton Park, Schenectady, Schodack, and Troy.

About Allen Zieker, M.D.

Dr. Allen Zieker has been in practice as an ophthalmologist and cataract surgeon for more than 33 years. Working with cataract patients is his passion; in fact, Dr. Zieker performs more than 1,500 cataract surgeries annually. During his career, he has completed well over 7,000 laser procedures and several thousand astigmatic surgeries.

In 2018 Dr. Allen Zieker was the first cataract surgeon in the United States to implant the enVista® toric MX60T intraocular lens. In 2019, he was one of the first surgeons in upstate New York to implant the Hydrus® Microstent in glaucoma patients during cataract surgery. Dr. Allen Zieker is at the forefront of eye care, seeking out the latest advancements in technology and treatment options.

Dr. Allen Zieker was the founder of Troy Eye Associates and a founding member of Albany-Troy Cataract and Laser Associates. Expansion into communities surrounding Albany and Troy led to the renaming of the practice to Ophthalmic Consultants of the Capital Region. The goal of the expansion is to better serve patients from all the areas of the Capital District. Dr. Allen Zieker is the President of the practice and Director of Cataract Surgery.