Ab interno Schlemm's canal surgery: trabectome and i-stent.

In primary open-angle glaucoma, the site of greatest resistance to aqueous outflow is thought to be the trabecular meshwork. Augmentation of the conventional (trabecular) outflow pathway would facilitate physiologic outflow and subsequently lower intraocular pressure. Ab interno Schlemm's canal surgery including two novel surgical modalities, Trabectome (trabeculotomy internal approach) and Trabecular Micro-bypass Stent (iStent), is designed to reduce intraocular pressure by this approach. In contrast to external filtration surgeries such as trabeculectomy and aqueous tube shunt, these procedures are categorized as internal filtration surgeries and are both performed from an internal approach via gonioscopic guidance. Published results suggest that these surgical procedures are both safe and efficacious for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma.