Glaucoma Surgery Methods and Systems

摘要

Methods and systems are disclosed for creating an aqueous flow pathway in the trabecular meshwork, juxtacanalicular trabecular meshwork and Schlemm's canal of an eye for reducing elevated intraocular pressure. Some embodiments described apparatus and methods useful in photoablation of tissues. In some embodiments, a photoablation apparatus is used to perforate a tissue, forming an aperture into a space behind the tissue. Gases formed during a photoablation process can be used to pressurize the space behind the tissue to enhance patency of the space. In some embodiments the tissue is the trabecular meshwork of the eye and a wall of Schlemm's canal, and the space behind the tissue is a portion of the lumen of Schlemm's canal. In some embodiments, the method is useful in the treatment of glaucoma by improving outflow from the anterior chamber of the eye into Schlemm's canal, reducing intraocular pressure.

主权项

1. A method, of treating glaucoma in an eye, the method comprising:
creating an aperture through a first layer of eye tissue at a target site located in an anterior portion of the eye; advancing a distal portion of a delivery device through the first layer of eye tissue to a location between the first layer of eye tissue and a second layer of eye tissue, the location being within a space between the first layer and second layer of eye tissue, a distal opening of the delivery device being in fluid communication with the space between the first and second layers of eye tissue; advancing, through the distal portion of the delivery device, a fluid comprising an angiostatic steroid toward the distal opening of the delivery device; and administering, through the distal opening of the delivery device, the fluid into the space between the first and second layers of eye tissue; wherein the administering of the fluid expands the space between the first and second layers of eye tissue as the first layer of eye tissue is further separated from the second layer of eye tissue by deposition of the fluid in the space; and wherein the administering of the fluid is adapted to result in a lowered intraocular pressure in the eye.