Methods and devices for treating a retinal detachment

Abstract

A method of treating a detachment of a retina of an eye, the method including the steps of injecting a substance into a vitreous cavity of the eye, the substance slowing flow of fluid through the vitreous cavity into a subretinal space to reduce a rate of accumulation of a subretinal fluid in the subretinal space to below a rate of removal of the subretinal fluid from the subretinal space by retinal pigment epithelium; and permitting the retinal pigment epithelium to reattach the retina. The invention also includes devices for practicing the method.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating an ocular condition, the method comprising:
 injecting a substance comprising hyaluronic acid formulated as a solution with a concentration greater than 5% by weight into a vitreous cavity of an eye; and   slowing flow of water and/or solutes through fluid in the vitreous cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising increasing a viscosity of the fluid in the vitreous cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is vitreous fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is saline. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substance comprises hyaluronic acid formulated as a solution with a concentration greater than 15% by weight. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substance comprises hyaluronic acid formulated as a solution with a concentration greater than 30% by weight. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substance further comprises a therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein injecting a substance comprises injecting a substance with a volume between 0.05 mL to 0.5 mL. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising removing fluid from the eye prior to the injecting step. 
     
     
         10 . A method of treating an ocular condition, the method comprising:
 injecting a substance having a viscosity of greater than 10,000,000 (cps) (resting) into a vitreous cavity of an eye; and   slowing flow of water and/or solutes through fluid in the vitreous cavity.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the fluid is vitreous fluid. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the fluid is saline. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the substance comprises a modified form of hyaluronic acid. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the substance comprises a hydrogel. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the substance comprises a natural hydrogel 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the substance comprises a synthetic hydrogel 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the substance comprises a cross-linked hydrogel 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the substance comprises a therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein injecting a substance comprises injecting a substance with a volume between 0.05 mL to 0.5 mL.