According to a report distributed by the University of Entre Rios, scientific studies that house managed to develop a smart microvalve for relief and treatment of high intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients. Currently, researchers working on the development of a prototype called the valve (i-mvalva), to test on animals.
“We are at a stage prior to preclinical testing, developing the prototype for deployment in animals,” said Dr. Fabio Ariel Guarnieri engineering, director of research and research group Conicet.
Glaucoma is a degenerative condition that damages the optic nerve fibers that affects between 1 and 2% of adults. One of the main factors which cause this disease is high intraocular pressure, which causes progressive damage to the optic nerve that can lead to blindness.
The first to treat glaucoma valves were developed in 1969 and connected the anterior chamber through the sclera with a silicone conduit. Currently, to avoid an excessive drain valves are marketed such as Ahmed, who have elastic mechanisms that reduce its hydraulic resistance with increased intraocular pressure. Continue Reading »