What is Canaloplasty?

Canaloplasty is an advanced, non-penetrating procedure which is designed to restore the eye’s natural drainage system to provide sustained reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP). It is considered “non-penetrating” because the surgery does not go into your eye, but works just on the surface tissue. It widens Schlemm’s canal, which is in the back area of the cornea.

Schlemm’s canal runs around the outside of the iris. Its purpose is to collect excess aqueous fluid and deposit it in the bloodstream for excretion. Glaucoma can be caused by blockage of this canal, as fluid production continues and creates high intraocular pressure. A canaloplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a microcatheter to widen the canal. This ultimately restores your eye’s natural irrigation.

How is Canaloplasty performed?

Dr. Liss will create a tiny incision to gain access to the drainage canal of the eye. A microcatheter will circumnavigate the canal around your iris, enlarging the drainage system through the injection of a sterile, gel-like material called viscoelastic. The catheter is then removed and a suture is placed within the canal and tightened. This tightened suture ensures that the canal remains open. By opening the canal, the pressure inside your eye can be relieved.

Benefits of Canaloplasty

Because canaloplasty is minimally invasive there is lower risk of post-operative complications and reduced scarring than in traditional surgery. Canaloplasty patients also benefit from a faster recovery time, less post-operative visits, and less restrictions following surgery. The possibility to greatly reduce and sometimes eliminate costly medications is also very attractive to glaucoma patients. Finally, patients undergoing canaloplasty are still able to undergo other treatments in the future.

Am I a Candidate?

Only your doctor can determine if canaloplasty is the right treatment for you, but to be considered you must have open-angle glaucoma and cannot have had previous glaucoma surgeries.