Retrospective Comparison of Intermediate-term Efficacy of 350 mm(2) Glaucoma Drainage Implants and Medium-sized 230-250 mm(2) Implants

AIM: To compare the intermediate-term efficacy of a large surface area Baerveldt 350 mm(2) glaucoma drainage device (GDD) with medium surface area implants (Baerveldt 250 mm(2) and Molteno 3, 230, or 245 mm(2)). DESIGN: This is a retrospective, nonrandomized comparative trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 94 eyes of 94 patients of mixed glaucoma diagnoses without any prior glaucoma surgical procedures and who had undergone a glaucoma drainage implant surgery with either a large Baerveldt 350 mm(2) GDD or a medium-sized GDD (Baerveldt 250 mm(2) or Molteno 230 or 245 mm(2)) were reviewed for intraocular pressure (IOP), number of glaucoma medications, and visual acuity (VA) preoperatively, and at 1, 2, and 3 years postprocedure. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in mean IOP, number of glaucoma medications used, and VA at 1, 2, and 3 years postoperatively. The rate of additional glaucoma procedures was similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: There is no clear evidence that a larger implant surface area beyond 230 to 250 mm(2) is advantageous in providing intermediate-term IOP control. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: It may be technically easier to surgically place a GDD that does not need to have its wings placed underneath the recti muscles, and the IOP results are similar. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Meyer AM, Rodgers CD, Zou B, Rosenberg NC, Webel AD, Sherwood MB. Retrospective Comparison of Intermediate-term Efficacy of 350 mm(2) Glaucoma Drainage Implants and Medium-sized 230-250 mm(2) Implants. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2017;11(1):8-15.