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Shunts and Implants for
Glaucoma
Shunts or implants are small
plastic devices that are
surgically attached to the
eye's surface. These devices
have a tiny tube that is
inserted into the eye
through the hole that is
made during a
trabeculectomy. This allows
a direct passageway for the
aqueous to escape from the
eye, with fluid dispersed
through the implant. In this
way, the aqueous fluid is
diverted to bypass the eye's
damaged filtration drainage
canals.
Shunts typically are made of
materials such as silicone
or polypropylene. Some
shunts are hollow tubes that
improve drainage, while
others have valves to shut
off drainage.
Complications of these
implants can include
creating a pressure that is
too low for the eye to
function (hypotony).
Implants also may be
positioned too close to the
front of the eye's surface,
causing decomposition of the
cornea. Tubes also may begin
to erode through the eye
tissues where they have been
placed.
The SOLX DeepLight Glaucoma
Treatment System combines a
titanium sapphire laser with
a gold shunt (shown at far
left next to a quarter and
at right inserted into an
eye). At lower left and
right are photos of a
patient's trabecular
meshwork before and after
treatment.
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