One embodiment is directed to a system for treating hypertension within the eye of a patient, comprising a light delivery element optically intercoupled between a light source and a targeted tissue structure of the eye wherein the targeted tissue structure has been genetically modified to have light sensitive protein and wherein exposure of the genetically modified targeted tissue structure to radiation delivered through the light delivery element modulates the contractility of the genetically modified targeted tissue structure to reduce an intraocular pressure within the eye.
