Risk factors and management of choroidal effusions

Choroidal effusions are recognized as a common early postoperative complication of glaucoma surgery, and although often benign, they may cause significant ocular morbidity. This article aims to summarize current research on the risk factors and management of choroidal effusions.

Glaucoma drainage device (GDD) implantation and trabeculectomy are the most commonly performed surgeries for the management of moderate to severe glaucoma. Common postoperative complications of these procedures include hypotony and the development of choroidal effusions. Choroidal effusions have recently been associated with the oral administration of certain drugs, including select monoclonal antibody, antiseizure and bisphosphonate medications. Risk factors for effusion development include specific patient characteristics such as pseudoexfoliative glaucoma, older age and hypertension. Although choroidal effusions typically resolve with medical therapy alone, surgical intervention may be required. Various methods of surgical intervention, such as surgical drainage or GDD tube ligation, can be utilized to treat choroidal effusions when conservative management with medical treatment fails, but themselves carry alternative risks that must be considered.

Minimizing the incidence and duration of hypotony following ophthalmic surgery and careful monitoring of patients starting certain oral medications are important in limiting the occurrence of choroidal effusions. Risk factors for choroidal effusions have been recently identified in the literature. A better understanding of these risk factors, as well as the outcomes of choroidal effusion management, can help to reduce the occurrence of effusions overall and minimize ocular morbidity.