Baerveldt Tube Implantation for Refractory Glaucoma in Young Patients: Intermediate-Term Results

To evaluate intermediate-term results of Baerveldt tube implantation for treatment of refractory glaucoma in young patients. 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. 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. Our results show that Baerveldt tube implantation is an effective and safe method for IOP control in young patients with refractory glaucoma