Results of a New Technique for Implantation of Nonrestrictive Glaucoma Devices

To describe and present results of an original technique for nonvalved glaucoma implants.

Thirty-five eyes of 34 patients with aggressive and/or advanced glaucomas of different causes were included. A Baerveldt implant was used in all cases, using an absorbable ligature that had been titrated to allow fow from day 1, but avoiding hypotony. Intraocular pressure (IOP) during the first 8 weeks, final IOP, visual acuity and complications were analyzed.

Mean preoperative IOP was 42.8 mm Hg (range: 24-64 mm Hg). IOP was 14.4, 17.2, 18.6, 19 and 16.4 mm Hg during the 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 postoperative weeks. Mean final IOP was 13.8 ± 4.25 mm Hg, a 67.8% reduction, after a mean follow-up time of 13 months (range: 8-29 months). Twenty-nine eyes (82.9%) had complete success, two had qualifed success (5.7%) and four were failures (11.4%). Choroidal detachments and transient tube obstructions were the most frequent complications.

Titrated ligature of Baerveldt tubes was effective for controlling IOP during both the early and late postoperative phases in eyes with severe glaucomas. How to cite this article: Arismendi GEO, del Pilar Peña Valderrama C, Albis-Donado O. RESULTS of a New Technique for Implantation of Nonrestrictive Glaucoma Devices. J Current Glau Prac 2013;7(3):130-135.