MICROSURGERY FOR TREATMENT OF GLAUCOMA

摘要

Surgical procedures and devices are used for treating medical conditions in the eye such as glaucoma. In particular, access to Schlemm's canal in the eye is obtained by cutting through a portion of the sclera to expose the canal. This incision may be made using a fixture that guides a microknife to make a precise cut. A catheter containing a knife may then be placed within Schlemm's canal, and the knife can be actuated to a position outside the catheter to allow an incision to be made. This incision may be made through the wall of the canal and into the surrounding trabecular meshwork, thereby improving the drainage of the aqueous humor from the eye and lowering the intraocular pressure.