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Baerveldt glaucoma implants in the management of refractory glaucoma after vitreous surgery

  1. Elisabeth Van Aken1,2,
  2. Hans Lemij2,
  3. Yves Vander Haeghen1,
  4. Peter De Waard2

Article first published online: 16 DEC 2008

DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2008.01428.x

Issue

Acta Ophthalmologica

Acta Ophthalmologica

Volume 88, Issue 1, pages 75–79, February 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Van Aken, E., Lemij, H., Vander Haeghen, Y. and De Waard, P. (2010), Baerveldt glaucoma implants in the management of refractory glaucoma after vitreous surgery. Acta Ophthalmologica, 88: 75–79. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2008.01428.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Ophthalmology, Service of Vitreoretinal Surgery, University Hospital Ghent, Belgium

  2. 2

    Department of Glaucoma, Rotterdam Eye Hospital, The Netherlands

*Elisabeth Van Aken University Hospital Ghent Department of Ophthalmology De Pintelaan 185 B-9000 Ghent Belgium Tel: +32 9 332 5069 Fax: +32 9 332 4963 Email: elisabeth.vanaken@ugent.be

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 28 JAN 2010
  2. Article first published online: 16 DEC 2008
  3. Received on August 23rd, 2007. Accepted on August 6th, 2008.

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Keywords:

  • Baerveldt glaucoma implant;
  • BGI;
  • glaucoma;
  • vitreous surgery

Abstract.

Purpose:  To examine the effectiveness and safety of Baerveldt glaucoma implants in eyes with refractory glaucoma following vitrectomy.

Methods:  We performed a retrospective study of a non-comparative case series of 30 eyes of 30 patients who had undergone the implantation of a Baerveldt glaucoma device. All eyes (30/30) had a minimum follow-up of 6 months, and 16/30 (53%) had a follow-up of 24 months. Surgical success was defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) < 22 mmHg on the last two follow-up visits with or without glaucoma medication and a decrease in IOP of at least 20% compared to preoperative values with or without glaucoma medication.

Results:  The mean IOP before implantation of a Baerveldt glaucoma device was 30 mmHg [± 11.4 mmHg standard deviation (SD)] with maximally tolerated medical therapy. Six months after implantation of the Baerveldt glaucoma device, the mean IOP was 17.3 mmHg (± 6.7 mmHg SD) and the mean number of glaucoma medications had gone down from 3.0 (± 0.4 SD) to 0.3 (± 0.3 SD). Successful outcomes were found in 24 eyes (80%). Small complications occurred in six eyes (20%): transient postoperative hypotony (17%) and tube retraction (3%). Larger complications occurred in another six eyes (20%): corneal decompensation requiring keratoplasty (7%), suprachoroidal haemorrhage (3%) and persistently high IOP (10%).

Conclusion:  Baerveldt glaucoma devices are a valid treatment option in eyes with refractory glaucoma after vitreous surgery, although failure occurred in 20% of our patients. Transient complications occurred in 20% and severe complications in another 20%.

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