Silicone Tube Shunt in Suprachoroidal Space in Recalcitranc Glaucomas

Abstract

Silicone tube shunt operations to drain the aqueous from the anterior chamber to thesuprachoroidal space were performed in 12 different types of refractory glaucomas inwhich the intraocular pressure ranged from 25 mmHg to 80 mmHg (mean 45.75 mmHg)even after maximally tolerated medical treatment or after conventional glaucomasurgery. The post-silicone tube shunt intraocular pressure ranged from 7 mmHg to 34mmHg (mean 15. 83 mmHg) after a follow-up period ranging 2 months in some casesto 24 months in others. The intraocular pressure was controlled in all casespostoperatively either with the operation alone or with medical treatment or afterrepeat operation. The complications were very few except in one case in which therewas hyphema as well as vitreous hemorrhage prior to operation because of trauma forwhich pars plana vitrectomy followed by second silicone tube shunt operation wereperformed and at the end enucleation had to be done.Key Words: Artificial Drainage, Shunt Operation, Recalcitrant Glaucomas.