What Does Minimally Invasive Mean?
So canaloplasty is often described as a “minimally invasive surgery”. What does that mean, “minimally invasive”? Well, in order to understand that we really need to compare it to the traditional surgeries of trabeculectomy and tubes or shunts.Traditional surgeries require creating a full thickness hole or fistula in the wall of the eye. That hole is then left open, although it is guarded – either by flap or by a valve or sometimes temporarily by a suture. That guard however is not a complete guard, and so fluid does essentially have a straight flow out of the eye. It flows underneath the surface of the top layer of the eye, called the conjunctiva. This conjunctiva forms what is called the bleb in the case of a trabeculectomy or covers the actual plate of a shunt allowing a reservoir of fluid to collect. That fluid then drains out. Exactly how? We’re not exactly sure, but somehow it does get out of that reservoir and back into the venous system.
Canaloplasty as well as viscocanalostomy and other non-penetrating surgeries, do not require a creation of a full thickness, fistula. As a matter of fact the incision, once the drainage system has been opened, the drainage system being Schlemm’s canal, which is the natural aqua duct that fluid leaves the eye through. Once that has been opened with a gel (in a case of both viscocanalostomy and canaloplasty) as well as with a suture stenting it open (in the case of canaloplasty) then the flap that was created to gain access to the canal is closed back down with the suture. So there really is no full thickness flow from the inside of the eye to the outside of the eye. And any flow that does go from inside to the outside of the eye is temporary during healing process. And once the eye has been healed, the flow really should be through the natural drainage duct, Schlemm’s canal into what are called collector channels and then into the venous system. So that’s what is meant by minimally invasive or non-penetrating.
Canaloplasty Treatment FAQ Video Playlist
To view all Canaloplasty Treatment FAQ videos in one playlist, please visit: http://new-glaucoma-treatments.com/canaloplasty-treatment-faq/. Alternatively, you may press the button below.
Canaloplasty FAQ Videos (with Transcript)
- How Long Does Canaloplasty Take?
- How Long Will my IOP Stay Controlled With Canaloplasty?
- How Will I Need To Limit My Activities After Canaloplasty?
- How Long Has Canaloplasty Been Around?
- Why Choose Canaloplasty?
- Why Do I Perform Canaloplasty as My Primary Glaucoma Surgery?
- What Does Minimally Invasive Mean?
- What If My Natural Drainage Canal Cannot Be Fully Catheterized?
- What Are the Risks of Canaloplasty?
- What Is The Big Deal About A Bleb Anyway?
- What If Canaloplasty Doesn't Work, Can I Still Have Traditional Glaucoma Surgery?
- Is Canaloplasty Surgery Painful?
- Is Eliminating Drops Worth The Risk Of Having Canaloplasty?
- Is Canaloplasty Really Safer Than Trabeculectomy?
- Is Trabeculectomy an Option After Canaloplasty?
- Will My Insurance Cover Canaloplasty?
- Will My Vision Change After Canaloplasty?
- Will Canaloplasty Cure My Glaucoma?
- Will I Be Able To Stop Using Glaucoma Drops After Canaloplasty?
- I Have Had Glaucoma Laser Surgery, Can I Have Canaloplasty?
- I Already Had Traditional Glaucoma Surgery, Trabeculectomy. Can I Have Canaloplasty?
- I Have Used Glaucoma Drops for a Long Time, Will That Affect the Success of Canaloplasty?
- I Have Heard That Canaloplasty Is Not As Effective As Trabeculectomy
- Can I Continue To Wear Soft Contact Lenses After Canaloplasty?