Rapid Intraocular Pressure Change Method To Treat Central Retinal Artery Occlusion

CRAO (central retinal artery occlusion) is a serious eye disease that can lead to blindness.

There has been no effective treatment for CRAO until now.

A new, effective surgical procedure for CRAO has been developed.

Fukasaku Eye Institute

The idea of this surgery is to move the blood clots by changing the intraocular pressure rapidly and repeatedly up and down. Since the IOP changes must be transmitted to the blood vessels, the vitreous fibers are first removed by vitrectomy.

The vitrectomy machine is computer controlled and can be set to the surgeon's desired reflux pressure. The high vitreous pressure can be set to 80 mmHg and the low pressure to 10 mmHg, and the IOP can be changed instantly and precisely alternating between high and low with a footswitch.

The intravitreal infusion pressure is raised 80mmHg and held for 10 seconds. Then, abruptly lower the pressure to 10 mmHg for 10 seconds.

This rapid change in intraocular pressure is repeated 10 times.

In this CRAO patient case, the preoperative corrected visual acuity was 20/2000 and intraocular pressure was 14 mmHg.

When I performed the vitrectomy and applied the rapid changing the intraocular pressure between 80mmHg and 10mmHg, suddenly I found the blood has started to flow.

Thus, the central retinal artery clot has moved and blood flow has been restored and retinal artery vessels appear to have thickened.

Post operative visual field was improved and the corrected visual acuity has also improved dramatically from 20/2000 to 20/20.

Patient is very much satisfied and grateful.

CRAO retinal artery occlusion is a serious eye disease that can lead to blindness.

There has been no effective treatment for CRAO until now, but with my new technique, vitrectomy and alternating high and low intraocular pressure can push the blood clot away and restart blood flow.

This new surgical procedure I have developed is a very effective method for CRAO. Patient's vision is dramatically recovered.

We can save patients from blindness caused by CRAO all over the world with using my surgical technique.