A trabecular bypass stent such as the RVI device is a tiny implant placed in the eye’s drainage angle to create a direct channel through the trabecular meshwork.
How trabecular bypass stents work
In open-angle glaucoma, resistance at the meshwork hinders fluid escape. The stent bridges this barrier, allowing aqueous humour to flow more easily into Schlemm’s canal.
- Implanted using a micro-incision, often during cataract surgery
- Typically used for mild to moderate open-angle glaucoma
- Designed to be permanent and generally invisible externally
- May be used singly or in multiple placements depending on design
Expected benefits and limits
These devices offer pressure reduction with minimal tissue disruption. They are not usually sufficient for very advanced disease needing very low pressures.
- Can reduce the number of daily glaucoma drops
- Follow-up is required to confirm sustained pressure control
- Not appropriate for angle-closure or heavily scarred angles
- Choice among different stent types depends on surgeon experience and patient needs
