title: Refractory glaucoma--tube or diode?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the present study was to assess the relative effectiveness of tube surgery and cyclodiode laser in terms of achieving intraocular pressure control.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was undertaken to compare patients undergoing double plate Molteno tube implantation with patients undergoing diode cyclophotocoagulation. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was documented at 7 days prior to surgery and postoperatively at various time points. Surgical success was defined as a final IOP between 6 (inclusive) and 21 mmHg (inclusive), without the use of topical medication, while 'qualified' success was defined as IOP within the same range with the use of topical medication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight diode patients and 26 tube patients were included for the study. An average follow up of 150 weeks (range = 21-322 weeks) was available. Mean preoperative IOP was 37 +/- 12 mmHg for the tube group and 39 +/- 16 mmHg for the diode group (t = 0.51, P = 0.61). The final IOP was 17 +/- 12 mmHg for the tube group and 21 +/- 13 mmHg for the diode group (t = 0.35, P = 0.73). Surgical success was achieved in 46% of tube eyes and 11% of diode eyes, while qualified success was achieved in 81% of tube eyes compared with 64% of eyes in the diode group. Two eyes which underwent diode became phthisical.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IOP control may be achieved in a greater number of patients with tube surgery. The possible benefits of IOP control in diode patients need to be weighed against the risks of long-term visual loss and the need for multiple re-treatments in this group.
authors.affiliation: Bristol Eye Hospital, Bristol, UK. rzmalik@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Rizwan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Roger B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Ellingham
authors.forename: Hanif
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suleman
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018465:Molteno Implants; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome