This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Corneal tissue linked to fewer tube shunt exposures than pericardium
Glycerol-preserved corneal tissue delayed exposure of glaucoma drainage shunts significantly longer than pericardium patch grafts, according to a study.
“[This study] indicates that [glaucoma drainage implant] coverage with glycerol preserved corneal tissue compared with pericardium may significantly decrease the rate of an exposure event and provide a longer time to initial exposure event. Functional advantages, such as the ability to perform laser suture lysis, and improved cosmesis are further advantages in using corneal tissue,” the study authors wrote.
The retrospective study included 262 patients; 101 patients had patch grafts made of pericardium and 161 had grafts made with corneal tissue. Median follow-up interval was 440 days in the corneal tissue group and 331 days in the pericardium group; the between-group difference was statistically significant, according to the researchers (P = .0106).
The prevalence of primary open-angle glaucoma was significantly higher in the pericardium group than in the corneal tissue group (48.5% vs. 36%; P = .0453).
Nine patients in the pericardium group (8.9%) and three patients in the corneal tissue group (1.9%) experienced erosion, which was also considered statistically significant (P = .0125). Two repeat exposures were reported in the pericardium group, and no repeat exposures were seen in the corneal tissue group.
Median time to exposure was significantly shorter in the pericardium group compared with the corneal tissue group 252 vs. 440 days; P = .0017).
Disclosure: Curcio receives partial salary support from Global Sight Network. The remaining authors have no relevant financial disclosures.