Assessment of the differences in the short-term clinical outcomes of superotemporal and inferonasal Baerveldt glaucoma implantation surgeries performed via the pars plana route

Abstract

AIM: To investigate and discover whether different insertion areas for Baerveldt glaucoma implant (BGI) surgery produce different outcomes in terms of the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP). METHODS: This retrospective study involved the review of cases of patients admitted at Toho University Sakura Medical Center, who underwent BGI surgery via the pars plana route for the treatment of neovascular glaucoma. The patients were divided into two groups: the superotemporal insertion group [18 eyes in 16 subjects (13 males, 3 females; mean age 62.9±14.4y)] and the inferonasal insertion group [17 eyes in 15 subjects (11 males, 4 females; mean age 56.9±10.7y)]. The patients were followed up and re-evaluated at 12mo. The IOP reduction rate 12mo after surgery relative to preoperative IOP was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The mean preoperative IOP was 31.1±10.0 mm Hg and postoperative IOP was 14.4±4.5 mm Hg in the superotemporal group, whereas for the inferonasal group, the mean preoperative IOP was 34.9±9.7 mm Hg and postoperative IOP was 15.9±3.7 mm Hg. The IOP reduction rate of the superotemporal group was 50.0%±19.0% and that of the inferonasal group was 51.2%±16.3%. There was no significant correlation between the two groups (Student’s t-test, P=0.590). CONCLUSION: There was no difference in the short-term clinical outcomes between superotemporal and inferonasal BGI performed via the pars plana route.