Method for laser treatment for glaucoma
OwnerGregg S. Homerinventor
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Abstract
Because vision loss in most forms of glaucoma is related to elevated IOP, most glaucoma treatment protocols are concerned with lowering IOP by increasing aqueous humor outflow. The invention utilizes electromagnetic radiation to create retraction in the iris tissue, thereby (a) reducing convexity and enlarging the drainage angle and thus the area of the anterior chamber, (b) reducing contact between the zonule fibers and the iris pigment epithelium, (c) applying greater tension to both the TM and uveoscleral outflow pathways, thereby enlarging those pathways and increasing outflow.
Claims13
A method for reducing intraocular pressure in an eye, comprising applying laser radiation in the form of a laser beam to at least approximately an entire anterior surface of an iris of the eye, wherein stromal pigment resides on the anterior surface, wherein a frequency of the laser radiation is such that the laser beam is capable of passing through a cornea of the eye, wherein the frequency of the laser radiation is such that the stromal pigment serves as a chromophore for the laser beam, wherein an energy density of the laser radiation is such that the laser radiation induces retraction in least a portion of iris tissue, wherein the retraction induces at least one of the following:
- a reduction in a convexity of the iris,
- an enlargement of a drainage angle of the eye,
- an increase in aqueous outflow through a trabecular meshwork of the eye,
- an increase in aqueous outflow through a uveoscleral pathway of the eye,
- a reduction in contact between zonule fibers of the eye and a pigment epithelium of the iris, and
- an increase in the area between a pupil of the eye and an anterior lens capsule of the eye.
A system for reducing intraocular pressure in an eye, wherein stromal pigment resides on an anterior surface of the eye, comprising:
- a laser, wherein the laser is configured to apply laser radiation in the form of a laser beam to at least approximately an entire anterior surface of an iris of the eye, wherein a frequency of the laser radiation is such that the laser beam is capable of passing through a cornea of the eye, wherein the frequency of the laser radiation is such that the stromal pigment serves as a chromophore for the laser beam, wherein an energy density of the laser radiation is such that the laser radiation induces retraction in least a portion of iris tissue, wherein the retraction induces at least one of the following:
- a reduction in a convexity of the iris,
- an enlargement of a drainage angle of the eye,
- an increase in aqueous outflow through a trabecular meshwork of the eye,
- an increase in aqueous outflow through an uveoscleral pathway of the eye,
- a reduction in contact between zonule fibers of the eye and a pigment epithelium of the iris, and
- an increase in the area between a pupil of the eye and an anterior lens capsule of the eye;
- a computerized scanning system, configured to scan the laser beam throughout the at least approximately entire anterior surface of the iris.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.