SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THERAPEUTIC MANAGEMENT OF OCULAR HYPERTENSION
One embodiment is directed to a method for treating hypertension within the eye of a patient, comprising: delivering an effective amount of polynucleotide comprising an exogenous receptor genetic material which is expressed in a targeted tissue structure of the eye, wherein the targeted tissue structure has been genetically modified to have light sensitive protein; waiting for a period of time to ensure that sufficient portions of the targeted tissue structure of the eye will express the desired light sensitive protein; and causing controlled mechanical changes to the permeability of the eye by directing light to the targeted tissue structure through a light deliver element optically intercoupled between a light source and the targeted tissue structure of the eye.
1 . A method for treating hypertension within the eye of a patient, comprising:
a. delivering an effective amount of polynucleotide comprising an exogenous receptor genetic material which is expressed in a targeted tissue structure of the eye, wherein the targeted tissue structure has been genetically modified to have light sensitive protein;
b. waiting for a period of time to ensure that sufficient portions of the targeted tissue structure of the eye will express the desired light sensitive protein; and
c. causing controlled mechanical changes to the permeability of the eye by directing light to the targeted tissue structure through a light delivery element optically intercoupled between a light source and the targeted tissue structure of the eye.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the light delivery element comprises a contact lens configured to directly interface with a corneal surface of the eye.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the contact lens is configured to direct light incoming toward the eye to a structure selected from the group consisting of: a trabecular meshwork of the eye; and a schlemm's canal of the eye.
4 . The method of 3 , wherein the contact lens is configured to direct light incoming toward the eye through an intermediate tissue structure selected from the group consisting of: a cornea of the eye; a limbus of the eye; and a sclera of the eye.
5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the contact lens is further configured to comprise an optical element or segment configured to reflect incoming light.
6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the contact lens is further configured to comprise an optical element or segment configured to focus incoming light.
7 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the contact lens is further configured to comprise an optical element or segment configured to both reflect and focus incoming light.
8 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the contact lens is further configured to comprise a spectral filtering element.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the light delivery element comprises an intraocular lens configured to redirect at least a portion of radiation incoming toward the eye to the targeted tissue structure of the eye.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the intraocular lens comprises an implantable prosthesis.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the intraocular lens is configured to direct light incoming toward the eye to a structure selected from the group consisting of: a trabecular meshwork of the eye; and a schlemm's canal of the eye.
12 . The method of 11 , wherein the intraocular lens is configured to direct light incoming toward the eye through an intermediate tissue structure selected from the group consisting of: a cornea of the eye; a limbus of the eye; and a sclera of the eye.
13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the intraocular lens is further configured to comprise an optical element or segment configured to reflect incoming light.
14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the intraocular lens is further configured to comprise an optical element or segment configured to focus incoming light.
15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the intraocular lens is further configured to comprise an optical element or segment configured to both reflect and focus incoming light.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the light source is coupled to a mounting structure configured to be removably coupled to the patient.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the mounting structure comprises an eyeglasses frame.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises ambient light from an environment around the patient.
19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the light sensitive protein is an opsin protein.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the opsin protein is an inhibitory opsin protein.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the inhibitory opsin protein is selected from the group consisting of: NpHR, eNpHR 1.0, eNpHR 2.0, eNpHR 3.0, Mac, Mac 3.0, Arch, ArchT, and iChR.
22 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the opsin protein is a stimulatory opsin protein.
23 . They method of claim 22 , wherein the stimulatory opsin protein is selected from the group consisting of: ChR2, C1V1-T, C1V1-TT, CatCh, VChR1-SFO, and ChR2-SFO.
24 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the light source is configured to produce pulses of light to be delivered to the targeted tissue structure of the eye.