Combined scleral buckle and Baerveldt glaucoma implantation (BGI) is effective for managing coexisting glaucoma and retinal detachment, while minimizing surgical risk, states a journal paper.

, Department of Ophthalmology and Einhorn Clinical Research Center, The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, New York, USA, included 30 eyes of 30 patients in a retrospective, consecutive, noncomparative, interventional case series.

All patients underwent simultaneous scleral and BGI surgery and were separated into a staged BGI group of 21 patients and a non-staged BGI group consisting of 9 patients. Successful IOP control was identified as 6 mmHg ≤ IOP ≤ 18 mmHg.

Mean best-corrected visual acuity improved from 2.0 preoperatively to 1.7 postoperatively. In the staged group 62% required second-stage tube insertion postoperatively. Mean IOP was reduced from 31.1±10.8 to 12.7±6.0 mmHg, mean number of glaucoma medications was lowered from 2.9±1.4 to 1.2±1.3.

Combined scleral buckle and BGI is a successful management technique for coexisting glaucoma and retinal detachment and greatly reduces surgical risk.

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Glaucoma

Combined scleral buckle and Baerveldt glaucoma implantation (BGI) is effective for managing coexisting glaucoma and retinal detachment.