baerveldt tube implantation for refractory glaucoma in young patients: intermediate-term results

purpose: to evaluate intermediate-term results of baerveldt tube implantation for treatment of refractory glaucoma in young patients. methods: we retrospectively studied 14 eyes of 11 consecutive patients aged<20 years with refractory glaucoma who underwent baerveldt tube implantation after 1 to 3 previous surgical procedures. the glaucoma was congenital in eight eyes and following congenital cataract surgery in four eyes, deep vitrectomy in one eye and post-traumatic in one eye. results: this study included seven male and four female subjects with mean age of 8.6±6.3 (range 2-20) years. mean follow up period was 38±0.9 months (range 1-4 years). mean intraocular pressure (iop) was 35±11 mmhg preoperatively which decreased to 16.5±4.7 mmhg postoperatively (p=0.001). iop of 5 to 21 mmhg was achieved in six eyes (42.9%) without antiglaucoma medication and in 12 eyes (85.7%) with or without medication. no loss of light perception or phthisis bulbi occurred during the follow up period. postoperative interventions included shortening of the tube in one eye (7%), iridectomy at the site of tube due to occlusion by iris in one eye and lens aspiration+pciol two years after tube implantation in one eye. conclusion: our results show that baerveldt tube implantation is an effective and safe method for iop control in young patients with refractory glaucoma.