Baerveldt drainage implants in eyes with a preexisting scleral buckle.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the surgical insertion of a Baerveldt drainage implant and postoperative visual acuity and intraocular pressure (IOP) outcomes in patients with a preexisting scleral buckle.


METHODS
Medical records of all patients with a preexisting scleral buckle who underwent insertion of a Baerveldt drainage implant at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Fla, from January 1, 1994, through December 31, 1998, were reviewed. Outcome measures included visual acuity and IOP at 1 year.


RESULTS
At 1 year postoperatively, 14 (88%) of 16 patients had stable or improved visual acuity. Preoperatively, mean IOP was 30.9 mm Hg and the mean number of antiglaucoma medications was 3.4; at 1 year postoperatively, mean IOP was 12.0 mm Hg and the mean number of antiglaucoma medications was 0.8 (P<.001). Nine patients (56%) achieved an IOP of greater than 5 and no greater than 21 mm Hg without medication, and an additional 7 (44%) achieved this level of IOP control with medication. No patient required further surgery for uncontrolled IOP during the follow-up interval, which ranged from 19. 1 to 45.5 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Baerveldt drainage device insertion behind or over a preexisting encircling band is often successful in managing refractory glaucoma in patients who have undergone previous scleral buckling procedures. Arch Ophthalmol. 2000;118:1509-1513
Scott
I U
IU
Department of Opthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, PO Box 016880, Miami, FL 33101, USA. iscott@bpei.med.miami.edu.
Gedde
S J
SJ
Budenz
D L
DL
Greenfield
D S
DS
Flynn
H W
HW
Feuer
W J
WJ
Mello
M O
MO
Krishna
R
R
Godfrey
D G
DG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D020327:Glaucoma Drainage Implants; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D012591:Scleral Buckling; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity