Methods and devices for treating a retinal detachment
A method of treating a detachment of a retina of an eye, the method including the steps of injecting a substance into a vitreous cavity of the eye, the substance slowing flow of fluid through the vitreous cavity into a subretinal space to reduce a rate of accumulation of a subretinal fluid in the subretinal space to below a rate of removal of the subretinal fluid from the subretinal space by retinal pigment epithelium; and permitting the retinal pigment epithelium to reattach the retina. The invention also includes devices for practicing the method.
1. A method of reattaching a detached retina of an eye, the method comprising:
injecting a substance comprising hyaluronic acid formulated as a solution with a concentration greater than 5% by weight into a vitreous cavity of the eye; and
slowing flow of water and/or solutes through fluid in the vitreous cavity into a subretinal space by the substance to reduce a rate of accumulation of a subretinal fluid in the subretinal space to below a rate of removal of the subretinal fluid from the subretinal space by retinal pigment epithelium to reattach the retina.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substance slows flow of the fluid through a tear in the retina into the subretinal space.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising increasing a viscosity of the fluid in the vitreous cavity.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid is vitreous fluid.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substance comprises hyaluronic acid formulated as a solution with a concentration greater than 15% by weight.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substance comprises hyaluronic acid formulated as a solution with a concentration greater than 30% by weight.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substance further comprises a therapeutic agent.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the therapeutic agent comprises a neuroprotective agent.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein the therapeutic agent comprises an agent that inhibits photoreceptor cell death.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein injecting a substance comprises injecting a substance with a volume between 0.05 mL to 0.5 mL.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising removing fluid from the eye prior to the injecting step.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the injecting step is performed without removing fluid from the eye prior to the injecting step.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the injecting step comprises:
inserting a needle into the vitreous cavity; and
delivering the substance from a reservoir through the needle into the vitreous cavity.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the delivering step comprises moving a plunger within the reservoir.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substance comprises a modified form of hyaluronic acid.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substance comprises a hydrogel.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substance comprises a natural hydrogel.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substance comprises a synthetic hydrogel.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substance comprises a modified hydrogel.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substance comprises a cross-linked hydrogel.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises saline.
22. A method of reattaching a detached retina of an eye, the method comprising:
injecting a substance comprising hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) formulated as a solution with a concentration greater than 5% by weight into a vitreous cavity of the eye; and
slowing flow of water and/or solutes through fluid in the vitreous cavity into a subretinal space by the substance to reduce a rate of accumulation of a subretinal fluid in the subretinal space to below a rate of removal of the subretinal fluid from the subretinal space by retinal pigment epithelium to reattach the retina.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the substance comprises hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) formulated as a solution with a concentration greater than 15% by weight.
24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the substance comprises hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) formulated as a solution with a concentration greater than 30% by weight.
25. The method of claim 22 , wherein injecting a substance comprises injecting a substance with a volume between 0.05 mL to 0.5 mL.
26. The method of claim 25 further comprising removing fluid from the eye prior to the injecting step.
27. The method of claim 25 , wherein the injecting step is performed without removing fluid from the eye prior to the injecting step.
28. A method of reattaching a detached retina of an eye, the method comprising:
injecting a substance having a viscosity of greater than 10,000,000 (cps) (resting) and 500,000 (cps) (dynamic) into a vitreous cavity of the eye; and
slowing flow of water and/or solutes through fluid in the vitreous cavity into a subretinal space by the substance to reduce a rate of accumulation of a subretinal fluid in the subretinal space to below a rate of removal of the subretinal fluid from the subretinal space by retinal pigment epithelium to reattach the retina.
29. The method of claim 28 , wherein injecting a substance comprises injecting a substance with a volume between 0.05 mL to 0.5 mL.
30. The method of claim 29 further comprising removing fluid from the eye prior to the injecting step.
31. The method of claim 29 , wherein the injecting step is performed without removing fluid from the eye prior to the injecting step.