Vasomodulation during glaucoma surgery

• US 20040216749A1
• Filed: 01/23/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Original Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Inventors: Tu, Hosheng
• Application Number:
  US10/763,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20040216749A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002

Abstract

A method of minimizing blood reflux from an episcleral vein during an ab interno eye surgery includes advancing an applicator from an anterior chamber through trabecular meshwork toward Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and administering a vasoconstrictive agent to about Schlemm'"'"'s canal for minimizing the blood reflux. The vasoconstrictive agent may be an alpha-adrenergic agonist.

Claims

1. A method of minimizing blood reflux from an episcleral vein or reducing pain during eye surgery, comprising:

placing a glaucoma implant into an eye of a mammal; and

administering a vasoconstrictive agent to the eye to reduce blood flow through the episcleral vein or reduce pain.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vasoconstrictive agent is an alpha agonist.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the administering is topical.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the second agent is tetracaine.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the second agent is brimonidine.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the vasoconstrictive agent is an eye solution with a pH between 4 and 8.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the vasoconstrictive agent is an active ingredient in an eye solution at a concentration between 0.01 and 2 weight percent.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the implant is configured to be placed through the trabecular meshwork such that a proximal terminal of the implant is exposed to the anterior chamber of the eye and a distal terminal is exposed to Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye.

2. A method of minimizing blood reflux from an episcleral vein or reducing pain during eye surgery, comprising:

advancing an implant from an anterior chamber through trabecular meshwork toward Schlemm'"'"'s canal; and

administering a vasoconstrictive agent to eye tissue to decrease blood flow through the episcleral vein or reduce pain.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising administering a second agent to eye tissue.

11. A method of enhancing penetration of a poorly absorbing eye medicine, comprising co-administering to the eye of a mammal a therapeutic amount of vasoconstrictor and a therapeutic amount of said poorly absorbing eye medicine.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the poorly absorbing eye medicine is brimonidine.

12. The method of claim 15, wherein the vasoconstrictor is selected from the group consisting of alpha-1 agonist, alpha-2 agonist, alpha-3 agonist, and beta-adrenergic antagonist.

13. The method of claim 16, wherein the poorly absorbing eye medicine is tetracaine.