Drainage implants show efficacy for treating refractory pediatric glaucoma

"Glaucoma drainage devices appear to be a safe treatment option for children who have either primary or secondary glaucomas that do not adequately respond to initial medical or surgical therapy, according to a study by researchers in the Czech Republic.

Rudolf Autrata, MD, and colleagues at Masaryk University Hospital in Brno retrospectively evaluated outcomes for 76 eyes of 76 children who underwent implantation of either a Molteno or Baerveldt glaucoma drainage device over a 14-year period.

Children averaged 6.9 years of age at the time of surgery, ranging from 4 months to 17.5 years. Of the 76 cases, 31 children were treated for primary glaucoma and 45 children were treated for secondary glaucoma.

Investigators found that the mean IOP significantly improved after surgery. At 7.1 years mean follow-up, IOP had decreased to an average of 17.1 mm Hg from 33.6 mm Hg preoperatively (P < .001), according to the study."