Anterior chamber tube shunt to an encircling band, and related surgical procedure

摘要

An implant and a surgical technique involving the anterior chamber tube shunt to an encircling band treatment for reducing neovascular and other refractory glaucomas is disclosed. The implant includes two connected tubes or a tube connected to a band, one tube being located in the anterior chamber of the eye and the second tube or the band being located around the orbit of the eye. A destructible valve is located in the tube in the region of the anterior chamber to temporarily restrict flow of aqueous and thereby prevent hypotony. Additionally, the implant may be treated with a heparin complex before implantation of the device. In the embodiment of the invention utilizing two tubes, one is larger than the other and has 50 micron holes through its wall to aid in diffusion of aqueous from the anterior chamber into the orbit.