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Glaucoma device implanted under scleral flap has good results with or without cataract surgery
J Glaucoma. 2009. [Epub ahead of print]
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Implanting an Ex-PRESS miniature glaucoma device under a scleral flap resulted in surgical success in more than 90% of patients at 3 years in a single implantation or combined phacoemulsification procedure.
Clinicians implanted the device in a comparative consecutive case series of 345 eyes. Of those, 231 eyes were implanted with an Ex-PRESS implant (Optonol) under a partial-thickness scleral flap alone, and 114 eyes received an Ex-PRESS implant and phaco. Mitomycin C was administered to both groups.
Postoperative IOP was significantly lowered in both groups from baselines values. However, that change from baseline IOP was significantly greater in the Ex-PRESS implant alone group (P < .001), the study authors said.
The number of glaucoma medications was also significantly reduced in both groups after surgery.
Mean follow-up was 25.7 months in the Ex-PRESS implant alone group and 21.9 months in the combined group.
"At 3 years after surgery, surgical success was 94.8% and 95.6% in the Ex-PRESS and combined groups, respectively," the authors said.
Six eyes had obstruction of the tube, the most common complication associated with the device. All cases were successfully treated with YAG laser.