Canaloplasty

Canaloplasty is an advanced treatment for your glaucoma. It uses breakthrough microcatheter technology, similar to angioplasty, to enlarge your eye’s natural drainage system, both proximal and distal. It is the next step in the evolution of glaucoma surgery and is less invasive than some surgical treatments.

How is Canaloplasty Performed?

First, your doctor will make a small incision in the eye. The advanced Canaloplasty microcatheter will be inserted into the eye’s drainage system canal. Using the microcatheter, your doctor will circle the canal.

The microcatheter is then removed and a suture is placed within the canal to keep it open. By restoring your eye’s natural drainage system, the pressure inside your eye is usually lowered.

Canaloplasty can also be performed when other surgeries have failed (even those offered for late-stage disease) and with a very good success rate.

Canaloplasty is a highly effective surgical technique for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma. Minimally invasive, it uses breakthrough microcatheter technology to restore the function of the eye’s natural outflow system.

During the procedure, a microcatheter is inserted into Schlemm’s canal under a scleral flap. The catheter delivers a suture which acts like a stent to stretch the trabecular meshwork and hold open the canal.

Clinical studies have shown that Canaloplasty with the microcatheter, performed alone or in conjunction with phacoemulsification, can significantly and durably reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) without the risks and discomfort associated with trabeculectomy. It can therefore be offered earlier in the disease process. Canaloplasty can also be used in conjunction with existing drug based glaucoma treatments, after laser or other types of incisional surgery and does not preclude or affect the outcome of future surgery.

Canaloplasty revitalizes aqueous outflow, provides excellent IOP control, and does not require a bleb or result in bleb-related complications – providing an unprecedented level of efficacy and safety in the surgical treatment of glaucoma.

Am I a Candidate?

• Do you have open-angle glaucoma?
• Do you find using your eye drops inconvenient, difficult, or costly?
• Have your medications stopped working?
• Are you reluctant to have more invasive glaucoma surgery?

If you answered YES, Canaloplasty may be right for you. This advanced treatment option has been proven to provide patients with reduced dependence on medications. More importantly, the pressure inside your eye may be lowered and your glaucoma brought under control.

What are the benefits of Canaloplasty for me?

• Restorative treatment of eye’s natural drainage system
• Sustained reduction of pressure in the eye
• Reduced dependence on expensive medications
• Less invasive for quicker recovery and return to daily activities
• Less risk of complications versus traditional surgical alternatives
• No limitations on your favourite activities

Compared to traditional glaucoma surgery, Canaloplasty offers an improved safety profile with fewer intraoperative and postoperative complications. Canaloplasty can be performed alone, or in conjunction with, phacoemulsification to significantly and durably reduce IOP without the risks and discomfort associated with trabeculectomy. It can therefore be offered earlier in the disease process. Unlike conventional glaucoma surgery, Canaloplasty does not produce a filtering bleb and can therefore be performed on patients who wear contact lenses. In addition, patients who have undergone canaloplasty can continue normal day-to-day activities directly following treatment and require minimal post-operative follow-up.