Methods, apparatuses, and systems for reducing intraocular pressure as a means of preventing or treating open-angle glaucoma

Abstract

Embodiments include methods, apparatuses, and systems for reducing elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in a patient to either prevent or treat open-angle glaucoma. Heat is applied to the trabecular meshwork in the patient's eye without damaging proteins in the trabecular meshwork. The application of heat to the trabecular meshwork has the effect of relaxing or loosening protein clogs or other inhibitors in the trabecular meshwork, which are either reducing or obstructing of the outflow of aqueous humor, thereby increasing the patient's IOP and causing ocular hypertension (OHT). By loosening or relaxing clogs or other inhibitors in the trabecular meshwork, the outflow path for aqueous humor is increased or restored, which can lower IOP and either prevent or treat glaucoma. Force may also be applied to the patient's eye to apply pressure to the trabecular meshwork to further assist in the loosening or relaxing of clogs or other inhibitors in the trabecular meshwork.

1 . A method of lowering a patient's intraocular pressure, comprising the steps of:
 transferring heat to a trabecular meshwork of a patient's eye to a temperature level to loosen or relax one or more clogs in the trabecular meshwork to improve or restore an outflow path for aqueous humor through the trabecular meshwork; and   maintaining the heat transfer to the trabecular meshwork for a period of time.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transferring heat to the trabecular meshwork comprises transferring heat through a sclera and cornea of the patient's eye and to the trabecular meshwork. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein transferring heat to the trabecular meshwork comprises directing the heat in a direction in line with the trabecular meshwork and out of line with an iris and pupil of the patient's eye. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising measuring an intraocular pressure level of the patient's eye prior to performing the steps of transferring heat and maintaining the heat. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising measuring an intraocular pressure level of the patient's eye after performing the steps of transferring heat and maintaining the heat. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 diagnosing the intraocular pressure level in the patient's eye;   performing the steps of transferring heat and maintaining the heat based on the diagnosing of the intraocular pressure level in the patient's eye.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising measuring an intraocular pressure level of the patient's eye after performing the steps of transferring heat and maintaining the heat. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising discontinuing the transfer of heat to the trabecular meshwork. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising, after the step of discontinuing the transfer of heat to the trabecular meshwork:
 measuring an intraocular pressure level of the patient's eye;   diagnosing the intraocular pressure level in the patient's eye; and   determining if the steps of transferring heat and maintaining heat should be performed again based on the diagnosis.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the period of time is between 10 and 120 minutes. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the heat transferred is such that the heat reaching the trabecular meshwork is above body temperature. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the temperature of the heat reaching the trabecular meshwork is between approximately 40 to 44 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transfer of heat further comprises applying the heat to an outer eyelid of the patient's eye such that the heat is transferred through the outer eyelid and through a sclera and lens of the patient's eye to the trabecular meshwork. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the temperature of the heat applied to the outer eyelid of the patient's eye is between approximately 40 and 48 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transfer of heat further comprises applying the heat to a sclera of the patient's eye such that the heat is transferred through the sclera and cornea of the patient's eye to the trabecular meshwork. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the temperature of the heat applied to the sclera of the patient's eye is between approximately 38 and 45 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transferring a force to the trabecular meshwork to apply a pressure to the trabecular meshwork to assist in loosening or relaxing one or more clogs in the trabecular meshwork to improve or restore the outflow path for aqueous humor through the trabecular meshwork. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising maintaining the transfer of the force to the trabecular meshwork for a period of time. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the period of time for maintaining the transfer of the force to the trabecular meshwork is between approximately 10 and 120 minutes. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein transferring the force to the trabecular meshwork further comprises applying a force to the outside of the patient's eyelid that is transferred to the trabecular meshwork. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the force applied to the outer eyelid is between approximately 10 and 500 mmHg. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the force applied to the outside of the patient's eyelid is a massaging force. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the force transferred to the trabecular meshwork is transferred simultaneously with the heat transfer. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the force transferred to the trabecular meshwork is transferred after discontinuing the transfer of heat to the trabecular meshwork. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transferring heat to the trabecular meshwork comprises transferring diffuse heat to the trabecular meshwork.