Viscocanalostomy and canaloplasty : Technique and results

Non penetrating surgical procedures involving Schlemm canal represent a new challenge in glaucoma surgery. While allowing good IOP control this technics avoids major complications known with Trabeculectomy and avoids the need for a subconjunctival filtering bleb which shunts aqueous to nonphysiological routes. Viscocanalostomy is characterized by the enlargement of Schlemm’s canal with viscoelastic near the surgical margins, in order to enhance aqueous egress through the ostia of the canal and then out of the eye via aqueous collector channels. Since the first description of Viscocanalostomy by Stegman several improvements have been made in the technic of the procedure resulting finally in the 360 ° catheterization of the Schlemm’s canal, a procedure called Canaloplasty. The technic, personal and published results, advantages and disadvantages of these procedures will be discussed.