Combined scleral buckle and BGI is effective

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.

Professor V.C. Lima et al., 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.

Please visit the Journal of Glaucoma for more information.