A new
glaucoma drainage implant, expanded
polytetrafluoroethylene(e-
PTFE)
membrane implant, and e-
PTFE-
silicone tube implant were used in 11
eyes of 11
patients with recalcitrant
glaucomas including
neovascular glaucoma. After an average follow-up of 13 months,
intraocular pressures(IOPs) decreased to the level ranging from 10 to 20mmHg in all the
eyes. Five
patients were not on antiglaucoma medication. Four
patients required one beta blocker and/or
pilocarpine. The remaining two
patients still required the maximum tolerated medical
therapy and were considered to have a failed
drainage surgery. A temporary obstruction of the
drainage tube occurred in 2
eyes with
neovascular glaucoma which developed a minimal
hyphema and fibrinous aqueous after
surgery. Postoperative hypotony and shallow
anterior chamber developed in 4
eyes, but their situations were not dangerous. The
patients each had a
filtration bleb postequatorially after
surgery. These
blebs disappeared one to seven months later. In spite of the presence of a
filtration bleb, 7
eyes developed an increased IOP temporarily. The required conjunctival incision for installation of an e-
PTFE drainage implant was less than 90 degrees and the overall
surgical procedures seemed to be simple.