Grafts in Glaucoma Surgery: A Review of the Literature

Patients with bleb leakage, dehiscence, or infection after trabeculectomy need urgent bleb salvaging to prevent vision loss. Patients who have undergone a glaucoma drainage device surgery may have tube erosion, which is yet another devastating and outcome-compromising complication. The bleb or the tube in such cases needs to be patched by a biologic tissue, which is roofed by the conjunctiva and acts as a barrier against external infections. Sclera, pericardium, cornea, and dura mater are the commonly used patch graft materials. This review reports the outcomes of several new and old graft materials used to repair the post trabeculectomy compromised bleb and tube exposure in glaucoma drainage device surgeries.