16
These minimally invasive glaucoma surgery techniques have a very
high success rate at Athens Eye Hospital, often in combination with
cataract surgery
iStent is 25 times smaller than a
50 cent euro coin
In the last few years the implantation of artificial valve mechanisms
made from different materials such as silicone, have gained ground.
They impressively regulate aqueous flow, thus maintain a well-
controlled level of pressure, and avoid phenomena of overdraining.
A new and very promising technique for opening the draining system
is called canaloplasty. With this method there is no opening of the
trabeculum as in the aforementioned approaches, but there is an
effort to improve the existing drainage system instead.
This procedure resembles the balloon catheters used by the
cardiovascular surgeons. Initially a very small incision is made and
a small catheter is forced forward, around the drainage angle of
the eye. Subsequently a gel-like substance is forced into the canal
