System and method for treating an ocular disorder

A method of treating glaucoma comprising:

• forming an incision in a cornea of an eye;
• inserting a delivery applicator through the incision in the cornea and across at least a portion of an anterior chamber of the eye in an ab interno manner under gonioscopic guidance, the delivery applicator comprising an elongate member having a distal end portion configured to retain an implant therein, the distal end portion comprising a cutting member configured to penetrate a trabecular meshwork of the eye for receipt of the implant in Schlemm's canal;
• penetrating the trabecular meshwork using the cutting member of the delivery applicator;
• guiding the implant into Schlemm's canal such that a distal section of the implant extends along a length of Schlemm's canal and such that a proximal end of the implant is positioned in the anterior chamber;
• and
• removing the delivery applicator from the eye,
• wherein the implant comprises flexible material that is at curved along its distal section,
• wherein the implant is sized and shaped so as to slide in place in Schlemm's canal without undue suturing, and
• wherein the implant has at least one opening positioned along its distal section.

A method of treating glaucoma comprising:

• forming an incision in a cornea of an eye;
• inserting a delivery applicator through the incision in the cornea and across at least a portion of an anterior chamber of the eye, the delivery applicator comprising an elongate member having a distal end portion configured to retain an elongated seton therein, the delivery applicator being sharpened;
• penetrating a trabecular meshwork of the eye using the delivery applicator;
• guiding the elongated seton into Schlemm's canal of the eye such that a distal section of the elongated seton extends along a length of Schlemm's canal and such that an inlet section of the elongated seton is positioned in the anterior chamber;
• and
• removing the delivery applicator from the eye,
• wherein the distal section of the elongated seton is curved at an angle between 30 degrees and 150 degrees with reference to the inlet section of the elongated seton, and
• wherein the elongated seton has at least one opening positioned along its distal section.

A method of treating glaucoma comprising:

• forming an incision in a cornea of an eye;
• inserting a delivery applicator through the incision in the cornea and across at least a portion of an anterior chamber of the eye in an ab interno manner under gonioscopic guidance, the delivery applicator comprising an elongate member having a distal end portion configured to retain an implant therein, the distal end portion comprising a cutting member configured to form an opening in the trabecular meshwork of the eye for receipt of the implant;
• forming an opening in a trabecular meshwork using the cutting member of the delivery applicator;
• delivering the implant out of the elongate member of the delivery applicator such that a distal section of the implant is positioned in Schlemm's canal of the eye so as to extend along a length of Schlemm's canal and such that a proximal end of the implant is positioned in the anterior chamber;
• and
• removing the delivery applicator from the eye,
• wherein the implant is made of relatively soft material that is at least somewhat curved at its distal section to fit into and along Schlemm's canal,
• wherein the implant is sized and shaped so as to stabilize the implant in place without undue suturing, and
• wherein the implant has at least one opening positioned along its distal section.