Avoiding and managing complications of glaucoma drainage implants.
OBJECTIVE
The incentive for continued interest in aqueous devices in selected cases is mainly the result of the 5% incidence of late "blebitis" and endophthalmitis. The purpose of this review is to cover the most common complications that may arise and to offer strategies and techniques to avoid or rectify the complication.


RESULTS
Complications of aqueous drainage devices are categorized in three stages: intraoperative, early postoperative (<1 month), and late postoperative (>1 month). Intraoperative complications consist of anterior chamber entry, tube misdirection, and scleral perforation. Early postoperative complication includes hypotony and flat anterior chamber, choroidal effusions, and suprachoroidal hemorrhage. Late postoperative complication comprise tube migration, tube or plate extrusion, motility disturbance, and infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Most complications seen in glaucoma drainage implants are self-resolving and rarely threaten visual outcome.
Nguyen
Quang H
QH
Glaucoma Service, Division of Ophthalmology, Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, California, USA. qnguyen@scrippsclinic.com
D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery*; D020327:Glaucoma Drainage Implants; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation