Retrospective Comparison of Intermediate-term Efficacy of 350 mm2 Glaucoma Drainage Implants and Medium-sized 230-250 mm2 Implants

AIM To compare the intermediate-term efficacy of a large surface area Baerveldt 350 mm2 glaucoma drainage device (GDD) with medium surface area implants (Baerveldt 250 mm2 and Molteno 3, 230, or 245 mm2). DESIGN This is a retrospective, nonrandomized comparative trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 94 eyes of 94 patients of mixed glaucoma diagnoses without any prior glaucoma surgical procedures and who had undergone a glaucoma drainage implant surgery with either a large Baerveldt 350 mm2 GDD or a medium-sized GDD (Baerveldt 250 mm2 or Molteno 230 or 245 mm2) were reviewed for intraocular pressure (IOP), number of glaucoma medications, and visual acuity (VA) preoperatively, and at 1, 2, and 3 years postprocedure. RESULTS No significant differences were found in mean IOP, number of glaucoma medications used, and VA at 1, 2, and 3 years postoperatively. The rate of additional glaucoma procedures was similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION There is no clear evidence that a larger implant surface area beyond 230 to 250 mm2 is advantageous in providing intermediate-term IOP control. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE It may be technically easier to surgically place a GDD that does not need to have its wings placed underneath the recti muscles, and the IOP results are similar. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE Meyer AM, Rodgers CD, Zou B, Rosenberg NC, Webel AD, Sherwood MB. Retrospective Comparison of Intermediate-term Efficacy of 350 mm2 Glaucoma Drainage Implants and Medium-sized 230-250 mm2 Implants. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2017;11(1):8-15.