Short-Term Outcomes With Porous Plate Valved Glaucoma Implant
Narrative Responses:
Purpose
To study the short-term safety and efficacy of porous plate valved glaucoma drainage implant (GDI) surgery in glaucomatous individuals.
Methods
This study was approved by the University of Illinois at Chicago institutional review board. A retrospective medical record review of all patients undergoing porous plate valved GDI surgery at a single tertiary care eye center was performed. Exclusion criteria included < 30 days of follow-up and GDI surgery combined with keratoprosthesis implantation. The primary outcome was postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP). Secondary outcomes included visual acuity, use of supplemental medical therapy, complications, and incidence of a hypertensive phase.
Results
Thirty-two eyes underwent porous plate valved GDI surgery. Nine eyes were excluded due to inadequate follow-up (n=7) or combined keratoprosthesis surgery (n=2). Among included participants (n=23), mean follow-up time was 82 +/- 38 days. IOP and medication usage were reduced from 26.2 +/- 10.8 mmHg and 2.9 +/- 1.2 medications to 17 +/- 3.8 mmHg (P<.001) and 1.3 +/- 1.4 (P<.001) medications by last follow-up, respectively. Four (18%) eyes experienced vision loss > 2 Snellen lines. Eight (36.3%) eyes experienced a hypertensive phase at 74 +/- 26 days postoperatively. Complications included postoperative hyphema (n=1) and aqueous misdirection (n=1).
Conclusion
The porous plate valved glaucoma implant is effective in the short-term IOP-lowering of glaucomatous patients. However, the potential for a hypertensive phase requires close monitoring for possible re-institution of adjunctive medical therapy.