CLINICAL INVESTIGATION Suprachoroidal implant surgery in intractable glaucoma

Purpose To report the early results of suprachoroidal silicone implant surgery in intractable glaucoma. Materials and methods A modified silicone implant with no valve was implanted into the suprachoroidal space of 15 eyes with intractable glaucoma. Results The mean age of the patients was 53.0 ± 24.5 (range 7–85) years, the mean follow-up time was 17.1 ± 4.8 (range 10–28) months, and the mean preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) of patients receiving two or more medications was 33.1 ± 9.8 mmHg. At the last follow-up visit, mean IOP was 16.5 ± 7.9 (range 10–35) mmHg (Wilcoxon signed rank test, p = 0.001). The functional success, i.e., IOP B21 mmHg both with and without antiglaucomatous drugs, was 93.3%. The total success rate, i.e., IOP B21 mmHg without medication, was 13.3%. The average number of antiglaucomatous drugs used was 3.8 (range 2–5) preoperatively, and 2.2 postoperatively (range 0–4) (Wilcoxon signed rank test, p = 0.011). There was a C30% decrease in the IOP of 66.6% of the eyes. Shallow choroidal detachment as proof of drainage was evident in all cases. Conclusion Drainage of the aqueous humor from the anterior chamber to the suprachoroidal space via implantation of a modified silicone implant is effective in lowering the IOP in intractable glaucoma.