According to a recent report in the journal Advanced Science, researchers have developed a potential new treatment for glaucoma, which can replace daily eye drops and twice yearly injections to control the increase of intraocular pressure. Experiments on animals show that this method greatly reduces intraocular pressure.
Researchers from Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States said that the new treatment may become the first non drug, non surgical long-term treatment for glaucoma. It opens an alternative way for excess fluid (aqueous humor) in the eye to leave the eye by injecting viscous hydrogel made of biodegradable natural materials. It does not depend on the patient's eye drops every day, does not require complicated surgery, has small side effects and has good safety.
Up to 75 million people worldwide suffer from glaucoma, which is caused by excessive intraocular pressure that damages the optic nerve. Current treatment is to reduce intraocular pressure through daily use of eye drops, surgery or implanted medical devices, but these treatments are usually not successful.
There are usually two ways for aqueous humor to flow out of the eyes. The main pathway is through the structure called trabecular meshwork in front of the eyes, and the smaller pathway is through the structure of suprachoroidal cavity (SCS) directly below the eyes. In glaucoma, the main pathway is blocked, so in order to reduce the pressure, treatment is needed to open smaller pathways to allow aqueous humor to flow out.
The researchers used a hollow microneedle less than 1mm long to inject the polymer preparation into SCS. This substance is chemically cross-linked in the eye to form hydrogel, which maintains an open pathway in SCS, thus allowing aqueous humor in the eye to drain from the eye. This gel structure can keep the SCS pathway open for several months.
The researchers are currently trying to extend the opening time of the pathway by modifying the polymer material (hyaluronic acid) to provide at least 6 months of therapeutic effect.