Apparatus and method for treating glaucoma

A method for delivering a seton within an eye, comprising:

• providing an elongate guide member, said elongate guide member being selected from the group consisting of a guide wire and a fiberoptic;
• advancing a distal end of said guide member through at least a portion of the trabecular meshwork of the eye;
• advancing said seton along said guide member toward said distal end;
• positioning said seton to conduct aqueous humor between the anterior chamber of the eye and Schlemm's canal.

An apparatus for delivering a seton to the anterior chamber of an eye comprising:

• an elongate tube having a lumen, an outer surface, and a distal end;
• a movable, elongate guide member within said lumen, configured to permit said seton to be advanced through said tube and to be positioned in the trabecular meshwork of said eye;
• and
• an opening in said outer surface of said tube, configured to allow fluid infusion into said eye.

A seton comprising:

• an inlet portion configured to extend through a portion of the trabecular meshwork of an eye;
• and
• an outlet portion configured to extend into Schlemm's canal of said eye;
• wherein the outlet portion has at least one protrusion configured to exert traction against an inner surface of Schlemm's canal, said protrusion extending from said seton in a direction substantially perpendicular to a long axis of Schlemm's canal.

A method of treating glaucoma, comprising:

• implanting a drainage implant in a trabecular meshwork of an eye, said implant being substantially L-shaped, said implanting comprising:
• providing an elongate applicator, an inflow portion of said implant mounted at a distal end of the applicator such that an outflow portion of the implant extends from said applicator at an angle relative thereto;
• inserting the drainage implant through an incision in the eye;
• and
• transporting the drainage implant from the incision across the anterior chamber into the trabecular meshwork such that an inflow portion of the drainage implant is positioned in the anterior chamber and an outflow portion of the drainage implant is positioned in Schlemm's canal.

A method of treating glaucoma, comprising:

• implanting a drainage implant in Schlemm's canal of an eye, said implant being substantially L-shaped, said implanting comprising;
• providing an elongate applicator, an inflow portion of said implant mounted at a distal end of the applicator such that an outflow portion of the implant extends from said applicator at an angle relative thereto;
• inserting the drainage implant through an ocular incision in the eye;
• transporting the drainage implant from the incision through the anterior chamber of the eye to Schlemm's canal such that an inflow portion of the drainage implant is positioned to bypass the trabecular meshwork and receive fluid from the anterior chamber and an outflow portion of the drainage implant is positioned in Schlemm's canal.

A method of treating glaucoma, comprising:

• inserting an implant through an incision in the eye, said implant having a blunt outflow end;
• transporting the implant from the incision through the anterior chamber of the eye to Schlemm's canal;
• cutting an opening into Schlemm's canal;
• advancing the blunt outflow end through the opening;
• and
• positioning the implant such that an inflow portion of the implant is positioned to bypass the trabecular meshwork and receive fluid from the anterior chamber, and the blunt outflow end of the implant is positioned in Schlemm's canal.