AQUEOUS HUMOR DRAINAGE IMPLANT FOR TREATING GLAUCOMA

摘要

A first tube (3) and a second tube (7) for introducing aqueous humor outside the eyeball are connected to each other via a first joint (5) and a second joint (6) in the vicinity of the surface of the conjunctiva (14). A filter (9) for preventing retrograde infection from the outside to the inside of the eyeball is connected to the second tube (7) via a third tube (8) passing through the lower lacrimal duct (23). Owing to this constitution, an aqueous humor drainage implant (1) can be less invasively settled in the eye and outside the conjunctiva. It is also possible to discharge aqueous humor from the eyeball to the outside of the conjunctiva while preventing retrograde infection at the viral level. Thus, the effect of lowering ocular tension can be permanently sustained for a long time. Consequently, it is possible to provide an aqueous humor drainage implant for treating glaucoma which can be conveniently settled with little operative invasion and is free from any risk of injuring eyeball or nasolacrimal duct after implanting.