A method includes inserting a flexible cannula between a sclera and a choroid of an eye. The needle is advanced from a distal end of the flexible cannula, such that the needle pierces the choroid to access a subretinal space of the eye. The needle is used to aspirate fluid from the subretinal space. The fluid may be present from a retinal detachment, a macular hemorrhage, or other condition present before the procedure begins. The method may further include injecting the fluid in the subretinal space via the needle, in which case the fluid may be a balanced salt solution or other bleb fluid. The method may further include injecting a therapeutic agent into the subretinal space after aspirating the bleb fluid. The volume of injected bleb fluid may be greater than the volume of injected therapeutic agent.

A macular indentor for implantation on an eye of a patient includes a curved backbone extending from a first end to a second end and a raised pad coupled to the first end of the backbone. The raised pad extends inward from an inner face of the backbone such that, when the macular indentor is implanted on the eye, the raised pad applies pressure to the sclera of the eye which contacts the macula of the eye. The geometry of the backbone is configured to match the geometry of the eye.

Methods of delivering agents to structures within the eye are provided.

Several embodiments disclosed herein relate to compositions and methods for treating or repairing damage to ocular tissue. In particular, several embodiments relate to patches that interact, e.g., by way of an adhesive, with damaged retinal tissue to repair or mend a hole, tear or detachment of the retina from underlying ocular tissue. Still additional embodiments relate to self-assembling patches.

The present disclosure generally relates to microsurgical instruments having variable stiffness such as microsurgical instruments having variable stiffness for ophthalmic surgical procedures. In one embodiment, a surgical instrument includes a probe and a stiffener assembly. The stiffener assembly further includes a stiffener formed of a hollow tubular member substantially surrounding at least a portion of a length of the probe. Actuation of the stiffener along the length of the probe adjusts the stiffness of the probe, thus providing a user better control of the surgical instrument.

The present invention provides devices to access the suprachoroidal space or sub-retinal space in an eye via a minimally invasive transconjunctival approach. The devices may also be used after a partial dissection, for example after dissection of the outer scleral layer of the eye, and using the device within the dissection to access the suprachoroidal space or the sub-retinal space.

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.

The invention relates to ophthalmology, in particular to the surgical treatment technique of macular holes at the early stages without vitrectomy. The method for treating stage 1 macular hole without vitrectomy comprises peeling the posterior hyaloid membrane away from the foveola, wherein an ophthalmological instrument is inserted through the vitreous body until it comes into contact with the posterior hyaloid membrane in the macular area, the posterior hyaloid membrane then being gripped by said instrument and peeled away from the foveola, in accordance with the invention, and after the contact between the instrument and the posterior hyaloid membrane an opening is made therein, whereby the edge of the opening is then used to lift the posterior hyaloid membrane and peel it away from the foveola until the layers are separated; wherein the instrument used is an ophthalmological membrane spatula comprising a handle 1 and a pointed working part 2 with a tip 3 shaped as a hook. The improved grip of the posterior hyaloid membrane, better visual control and maintaining the hold of said membrane continuously through the manipulations until the peeling from the foveola is complete, made it possible to reduce the trauma associated with surgical management of stage 1 macular hole without vitrectomy and to decrease the number of related complications.

A dexterous manipulation device is provided that includes disc element and actuation wires. In preferred systems, the disc elements each have a curved top surface and a corresponding curved bottom surface. The actuation wires are threaded through apertures of each disc element. In certain aspects, the disc elements are stacked alternating with the curved top and bottom surfaces of adjacent disc elements forming a rolling joint. In preferred systems, the device has a total of 45 degrees of bending motion with two degrees of freedom.

The invention relates to ophthalmology, in particular to the surgical treatment technique of macular holes at the early stages without vitrectomy. The method for treating stage 1 macular hole without vitrectomy comprises peeling the posterior hyaloid membrane away from the foveola, wherein an ophthalmological instrument is inserted through the vitreous body until it comes into contact with the posterior hyaloid membrane in the macular area, the posterior hyaloid membrane then being gripped by said instrument and peeled away from the foveola, in accordance with the invention, and after the contact between the instrument and the posterior hyaloid membrane an opening is made therein, whereby the edge of the opening is then used to lift the posterior hyaloid membrane and peel it away from the foveola until the layers are separated; wherein the instrument used is an ophthalmological membrane spatula comprising a handle 1 and a pointed working part 2 with a tip 3 shaped as a hook. The improved grip of the posterior hyaloid membrane, better visual control and maintaining the hold of said membrane continuously through the manipulations until the peeling from the foveola is complete, made it possible to reduce the trauma associated with surgical management of stage 1 macular hole without vitrectomy and to decrease the number of related complications.