Drainage implants safe for children

Article

Glaucoma drainage implant surgery is a safe and effective treatment for primary and secondary paediatric glaucoma in addition to initial surgical and medical therapy, according to Inka Helmanova and colleagues from the Masaryk University Hospital, Czech Republic.

Glaucoma drainage implant surgery is a safe and effective treatment for primary and secondary paediatric glaucoma in addition to initial surgical and medical therapy, according to Inka Helmanova and colleagues from the Masaryk University Hospital, Czech Republic.

Dr Helmanova conducted a retrospective study in 76 children undergoing glaucoma drainage implantation. Mean age was recorded at 6.9±5.3 years (range four months to 17.5 years). Results were compared for children with primary and secondary glaucoma. Mean follow-up was 7.1±6.5 years (range 1.6 to 15.2 years).

Mean preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) was 33.6±17.4 mmHg and 17.1±6.5 mmHg, respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated a cumulative probability of success of 93% at six months, 82% at two years, 71% at four years and 65% at six years. No differences were noted between primary (n=32 eyes) and secondary glaucoma (n=45 eyes) patients in terms of success (p=0.183), final IOP, number of medications or length of follow-up. Glaucoma drainage implant surgery was successful for a mean period of 6.7 years.

It would appear that glaucoma drainage implant surgery is both safe and effective as an addition to normal surgical treatment and medical therapy for paediatric patients.

Newsletter

Join ophthalmologists across Europe—sign up for exclusive updates and innovations in surgical techniques and clinical care.

Recent Videos
Alfredo Sadun, MD, PhD, chief of Ophthalmology at the Doheny Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles, shared exciting new research with the Eye Care Network during the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting on the subject of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).
At this year's Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, Nitish Mehta, MD, shared highlights from his research documenting real-world results of aflibercept 8 mg for patients with diabetic macular oedema.
ARVO 2025: Anat Loewenstein, MD, shares data from herself and her colleagues on meeting needs of patients with diabetic retinopathy
At the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons annual meeting, Sheng Lim, MD, FRCOphth discusses the benefit of endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation for patients with primary open angle glaucoma and cataracts in the CONCEPT study
A photo of Seville, Spain, with the Congress on Controversies in Ophthalmology logo superimposed on it. Image credit: ©francovolpato – stock.adobe.com; logo courtesy COPHy
Anat Loewenstein, MD, Professor and Director, Department of Ophthalmology, Tel Aviv Medical Center, discusses the Congress on Controversies in Ophthalmology (COPHy)
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times Europe) AGS 2025: Clemens Strohmaier, PhD, on improving aqueous humour outflow following excimer laser trabeculostomy
3 experts are featured in this series.
Anat Loewenstein, MD, speaks about the 22nd Annual Angiogenesis, Exudation, and Degeneration Meeting in February 2025 and shares her global forecast for AI-driven home OCT
3 experts are featured in this series.
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.