Schlemm's canal implant. A new method for lowering intraocular pressure in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma? [Implantat in den schlemm-kanal. Eine neue methode, den intraokularen druck bei patienten mit primärem offenwinkelglaukom zu regulieren?]

Background. A surgical technique was developed using a Schlemm's canal implant to bypass the obstruction of outflow of the juxtacanalicular trabecular meshwork in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. The implant device should also bridge healing processes after trabeculotomy and laser techniques. Patients and methods. An 8- to 15-mm-long silicone tube was implanted in each of two human autopsy eyes connecting the anterior chamber directly with Schlemm's canal. Serial sectioning was performed at two sections of 1-mm length. Results. Implantation of the tube was technically uneventful. Histological examination showed no evidence of mechanical disruption of the endothelial lining of the inner wall of Schlemm's canal. Conclusion. These preliminary results demonstrate the possibility of shunting aqueous directly into Schlemm's canal using a silicone tube. A clinical study in a selected group of patients is planned.