Internal Shunt And Method For Treating Glaucoma

Abstract

A surgical technique and device wherein an indwelling tube is placed in the eye of a patient having glaucoma. The tube diverts aqueous humor from the anterior chamber to the suprachoroidal space from which it is removed by blood flowing in the choroidal and uveal tissues. This decreases the intraocular pressure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating glaucoma, comprising:
 providing an elongated implant that has a distal end, a proximal end, and that defines a fluid passageway along the implant;   creating a tunnel in eye tissue;   inserting the implant through the tunnel;   positioning the implant entirely within an interior of the eye such that the proximal end is positioned in and communicates with the anterior chamber and the distal end communicates with the suprachoroidal space;   leaving only the implant inside the eye; and   diverting aqueous humor along the fluid passageway from the anterior chamber toward the suprachoroidal space.   
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein implanting the implant entirely within an interior of the eye comprises implanting the implant so that the implant is positioned radially inward of an outer surface of the sclera. 
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein implanting the implant entirely within an interior of the eye comprises implanting the implant so that proximal end is positioned in the anterior chamber posterior of an inner surface of the cornea. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the implant comprises a rounded, outer surface that contacts a portion of the sclera. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising attaching a retaining structure to an end of the implant. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the retaining structure comprises a suture attached to a distal end of the shunt. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising cutting the implant prior to implantation. 
     
     
         8 . A method of treating glaucoma, comprising:
 providing an elongated implant that has a distal end, a proximal end, and that defines a fluid passageway along the implant;   creating a tunnel in eye tissue;   inserting the implant through the tunnel;   positioning the implant inside an eye so that the proximal end is inside the anterior chamber and the distal end communicates with the suprachoroidal space;   leaving only the implant inside the eye; and   causing fluid to flow from the proximal end toward the suprachoroidal space along the implant.   
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 8 , wherein positioning the implant inside an eye comprises implanting the implant so that the implant is positioned radially inward of an outer surface of the sclera. 
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 9 , wherein implanting the implant inside an eye comprises implanting the implant so that the proximal end is positioned in the anterior chamber posterior of an inner surface of the cornea. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the implant comprises a rounded, outer surface that contacts a portion of the sclera. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the tunnel is created using a needle. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the implant is cylindrical.