PubMed ID: 31990825
Author(s): Nguyen T, Kim H, Mielke C, Momont AC, Brandt JD, Liu Y. Combined dexamethasone intravitreal implant and glaucoma drainage device placement for uveitic glaucoma. J Glaucoma. 2020 Apr;29(4):252-257. doi: 10.1097/IJG.0000000000001454. PMID 31990825
Journal: Journal Of Glaucoma, Volume 29, Issue 4, Apr 2020
PRECIS At 1-year postoperative follow-up, concurrent placement of a dexamethasone intravitreal implant and glaucoma drainage device effectively controlled intraocular pressure (IOP) and inflammation in eyes with uveitic glaucoma with no changes in systemic immunomodulatory therapy.
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to assess 1-year postoperative outcomes in eyes with uncontrolled uveitic glaucoma following concurrent placement of a dexamethasone intravitreal implant and glaucoma drainage device.
MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a retrospective, observational case series of patients with chronic, noninfectious uveitis and uveitic glaucoma uncontrolled on maximal tolerated medical therapy with at least 1-year postoperative follow-up. The main outcomes were visual acuity, IOP, number of glaucoma medications, recurrent inflammation, frequency of topical steroids, systemic immunomodulatory therapy, and adverse events. Success was defined as IOP 20% from baseline on at least 2 consecutive visits after 3 months either with or without glaucoma medications (ie, partial or complete success, respectively).
RESULTS Eight eyes in 6 patients met the inclusion criteria. The average age was 44.1±19.7 years (range: 10 to 68 y) and 50% were female. At 1-year, there was no significant change in visual acuity. No eyes lost ≥3 lines of vision. The majority of eyes (87.5%) achieved complete (n=2) or partial success (n=5) with a decrease in average IOP from 36.5 to 11.8 mm Hg (P=0.002). Glaucoma medication use decreased from 3.0 to 1.3 medications (P=0.04). There was a significant decrease in the number of episodes of recurrent inflammation in the 6 months following surgery compared with the 6 months before surgery (P=0.004).
CONCLUSION In this small case series, dexamethasone intravitreal implant combined with Ahmed glaucoma drainage device appears to be an effective approach for the management of uncontrolled uveitic glaucoma.