Bionic-EyE: Glaucoma surgery simulator mimicking trabecular meshwork

Abstract

As one of the increasing eye diseases, glaucoma may cause vision loss, and surgery is performed to reduce intraocular pressure for its treatment. This research introduces a fabrication method for an artificial eye model mimicking the glaucoma eye structure comprised of the porous trabecular meshwork and the hollow structure of Schlemm's canal (SC). Furthermore, we integrated the eye model with a system electrically detecting the contact between a surgical instrument and electrode film formed on the bottom of SC, and confirmed the validity of its glaucoma surgery simulator. This simulator can be used for the surgical training of ophthalmologists and evaluations of new MIGS instruments.