This surgical tool inserts into the glaucoma drainage tube of the implant to control aqueous humor outflow, regulating pressure in the eye. The global market for glaucoma surgery devices is projected to reach $2 billion by 20231. In the early weeks after implantation, glaucoma drainage implants carry a risk of over-draining fluid from the eye. The standard surgical practice is to place a blocking stitch in the drainage tube, which is inconsistent in its ability to regulate the pressure and carries the risk of high intraocular pressure.
Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a venting shunt for glaucoma implants that eliminates variability in the regulation of intraocular pressure following glaucoma surgery. The device is easily removed during a post-operative visit.
A venting device compatible with existing glaucoma drainage implant devices to deliver more consistent pressure control that eliminates the need for the surgeon to place a blocking stitch to regulate intraocular pressure
During glaucoma surgery, surgeons implant a tube to allow excess fluid to flow out of the eye. Eventually, the body will form a membrane around the implant to regulate drainage of the aqueous humor and reabsorb it. Until this happens, drainage may exit too quickly and reduce the pressure of the eye too much. To avoid this, doctors usually add a freehand stitch in the drainage tube to slow the flow, but the stitches and accompanying holes and slits are highly variable, as are the results. Instead of this imprecise solution, UF researchers add a vent-like shunt into the drain’s opening to regulate fluid flow while the membrane is forming. A micro-opening in the shunt allows a controlled amount of fluid to flow through the implant and out of the eye, which allows for consistency in surgical practice. The shunts can have different profiles, depending on the patient’s need. Once the membrane forms, the shunt is not needed, and the surgeon easily can remove it post-operatively.