Glaucoma valve Glaucoma valve A glaucoma valve is a medical shunt used in the treatment of glaucoma to reduce the eye's intraocular pressure (IOP). The device works by bypassing the trabecular meshwork and redirecting the outflow of aqueous humour through a small tube into an outlet chamber or bleb. The IOP generally decreases from around 33 to 10 mmHg by removing aqueous on average 2.75 microliters/min. Professor Anthony Molteno developed the first glaucoma drainage implant, in Cape Town in 1966. Following on the success of the Molteno implant, several varieties of device have been developed from the original, the Baerveldt tube shunt,
Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery to augment outflow to the suprachoroidal space in order to control intraocular pressure; it is indicated for the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma. The stent is implanted through an ab interno approach and inserted into the supraciliary space (between the ciliary body and sclera), effectively creating a controlled cyclodialysis cleft, which is kept open by the device. The first clinical data on the device was presented in 2010 showed sustained IOP lowering and MIGS-like safety profile. This has been substantiated in subsequent studies in the combined setting with cataract surgery and as a stand-alone treatment for patients failing glaucoma topical