Patent ID: 10278920

Abstract:
A drug delivery implant and a method of using the same are disclosed herein. In one or more embodiments, the method includes forming a pocket in the cornea of the eye to gain access to tissue surrounding the pocket; applying a photosensitizer inside the pocket so the photosensitizer permeates at least a portion of the tissue surrounding the pocket and facilitates cross-linking of the tissue surrounding the pocket; irradiating the cornea to activate cross-linkers in the portion of the tissue surrounding the pocket, and thereby stiffen a wall of the pocket and kill cells in the portion of the tissue surrounding the pocket; and before or after the portion of the tissue surrounding the pocket has been stiffened and is devoid of cellular elements by the activation of the cross-linkers, inserting a corneal drug delivery implant into the pocket configured to release one or more medications into the eye.