Outcomes of Baerveldt Glaucoma Drainage Devices in Pediatric Eyes

AbstractGlaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy that is the second leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide, after cataract formation. A rise in the intraocular pressure (IOP) is considered to be a major risk factor for glaucoma and is associated with an abnormal increase of resistance to aqueous humour outflow from the anterior chamber. Glaucoma drainage devices have been developed to provide an alternative pathway through which aqueous humour can effectively exit the anterior chamber, thereby reducing IOP. These devices include the traditional aqueous shunts with tube-plate design, as well as more recent implants, such as the trabeculectomy-modifying EX-PRESS® implant and the new minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) devices. In this review, we will describe each implant in detail, focusing on their efficacy in reducing IOP and safety profile. Additionally, a critical and evidence-based comparison between these implants will be provided. Finally, we will propose potential developments that may help to improve the performance of current devices.

Download Full-text

Combined pars plana glaucoma drainage device placement and vitrectomy using a vitrectomy sclerotomy site for tube placement: a case series

BMC Ophthalmology ◽

10.1186/s12886-021-01872-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Enchi Kristina Chang ◽

Sanchay Gupta ◽

Marika Chachanidze ◽

John B. Miller ◽

Ta Chen Chang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visual Acuity ◽

Pars Plana Vitrectomy ◽

Case Series ◽

Tube Placement ◽

Glaucoma Drainage Device ◽

Drainage Device ◽

Glaucoma Drainage Devices ◽

Pars Plana ◽

Sclerotomy Site

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study is to report the safety and efficacy of pars plana glaucoma drainage devices with pars plana vitrectomy using one of the vitrectomy sclerotomy sites for tube placement in patients with refractory glaucoma. Methods Retrospective case series of 28 eyes of 28 patients who underwent combined pars plana glaucoma drainage device and pars plana vitrectomy between November 2016 and September 2019 at Massachusetts Eye and Ear. Main outcome measures were intraocular pressure (IOP), glaucoma medication burden, best corrected visual acuity, and complications. Statistical tests were performed with R and included Kaplan-Meier analyses, Wilcoxon paired signed-rank tests, and Fisher tests. Results Mean IOP decreased from 22.8 mmHg to 11.8 mmHg at 1.5 years (p = 0.002), and mean medication burden decreased from 4.3 to 2.1 at 1.5 years (p = 0.004). Both IOP and medication burden were significantly lower at all follow-up time points. The probability of achieving 5 < IOP ≤ 18 mmHg with at least 20% IOP reduction from preoperative levels was 86.4% at 1 year and 59.8% at 1.5 years. At their last visit, three eyes (10.7%) achieved complete success with IOP reduction as above without medications, and 14 eyes (50.0%) achieved qualified success with medications. Hypotony was observed in 1 eye (3.6%) prior to 3 months postoperatively and 0 eyes after 3 months. Visual acuity was unchanged or improved in 23 eyes (82.1%) at their last follow-up. Two patients had a visual acuity decrease of > 2 lines. Two eyes required subsequent pars plana vitrectomies for tube obstruction, and one eye had transient hypotony. Conclusions The results of pars plana glaucoma drainage device and pars plana vitrectomy using one of the vitrectomy sclerotomy sites for tube placement are promising, resulting in significant IOP and medication-burden reductions through postoperative year 1.5 without additional risk of postoperative complications. Inserting glaucoma drainage devices into an existing vitrectomy sclerotomy site may potentially save surgical time by obviating the need to create another sclerotomy for tube placement and suture one of the vitrectomy ports.

Download Full-text

Ologen augmentation of Ahmed glaucoma drainage devices in pediatric glaucomas

BMC Ophthalmology ◽

10.1186/s12886-021-01827-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Adam Jacobson ◽

Carin Rojas ◽

Brenda L. Bohnsack

Keyword(s):

Intraocular Pressure ◽

Pediatric Patients ◽

Survival Rates ◽

Collagen Matrix ◽

Ahmed Glaucoma Valve ◽

Limited Data ◽

Conventional Surgery ◽

Glaucoma Drainage Devices ◽

Hypertensive Phase

Abstract Background Limited data exists on the effectiveness of the collagen matrix, Ologen, on increasing Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) success in childhood glaucomas. Methods Ocular examination and surgical details of pediatric patients who underwent AGV placement ± Ologen augmentation between 2012 and 2020. Complete success was defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) between 5 and 20 mmHg without glaucoma medications and additional IOP-lowering surgeries. Qualified success was defined as above, except IOP control maintained with or without glaucoma medications. Results Twenty-two eyes of 16 patients underwent AGV placement of which 6 eyes had Ologen-augmentation (OAGV) and 16 eyes had conventional surgery (CAGV). Average age was 6.4 ± 5.1 years with 4.2 ± 2.5 follow-up years. There was no difference in age, number of previous surgeries, and preoperative IOP and glaucoma medications. At final follow-up, success rate was 100% (5 eyes complete, 6 eyes qualified) in the OAGV group compared to 31% (0 eyes complete, 5 eyes qualified) in the CAGV group. One and two-year survival rates were 100% for OAGV compared to 62 and 38% for CAGV. Postoperative IOP was significantly lower at 1-month and final follow-up (p = 0.02) as was the number of glaucoma medications at 3, 6, 12-months and final follow-up (p < 0.05) in the OAGV group. Conclusions Ologen-augmentation increased the success and survival rates of AGVs in childhood glaucomas. Further, Ologen mitigated the hypertensive phase and decreased medication dependency. Longer follow-up with a greater number of eyes is required to fully evaluate the effectiveness of OAGV.

Download Full-text

Glaucoma drainage devices: making surgery simpler

Acta Ophthalmologica ◽

10.1111/aos.13972_287 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 96 (S261) ◽

pp. 79-79

Keyword(s):

Glaucoma Drainage Devices

Download Full-text

Combined Scleral Flap with Donor Scleral Patch Graft for Anterior Tube Placement in Glaucoma Drainage Device Surgery

Case Reports in Ophthalmological Medicine ◽

10.1155/2016/2124581 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-4

Author(s):

Jea H. Yu ◽

Chuck Nguyen ◽

Esmeralda Gallemore ◽

Ron P. Gallemore

Keyword(s):

Open Angle Glaucoma ◽

Effective Means ◽

Case Series ◽

Neovascular Glaucoma ◽

Tube Placement ◽

Glaucoma Drainage Device ◽

Scleral Flap ◽

Retrospective Case ◽

Glaucoma Drainage Devices ◽

Patch Graft

Purpose. To report a new technique for anterior placement of tubes for glaucoma drainage devices to reduce the risk of tube erosions.Methods. Retrospective review of select cases of Ahmed Valve surgery combined with the novel method of a limbal-based scleral flap covered by a scleral patch graft to cover the tube at the entrance through the limbus. Intraoperative and postoperative illustrations are shown to highlight the method of tube placement.Results. In this retrospective case series, 3 patients are presented illustrating the technique. Two had neovascular glaucoma and one had primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). On average, intraocular pressure was reduced from39±14 mmHg to15±2 mmHg and the number of glaucoma medications was reduced from4±1to 0. Preoperative and most recent visual acuities were hand-motion (HM) and HM, 20/60 and 20/50, and 20/70 and 20/30, respectively.Conclusion. The combination of a limbal-based scleral flap with scleral patch graft to cover the tube with glaucoma drainage devices may be an effective means to reduce erosion and protect against endophthalmitis.

Download Full-text