Background and objective: To evaluate the long-term outcome of aqueous shunts in the treatment of infantile glaucoma refractory to conventional treatment.
Patients and methods: The records of all patients up to 3 years of age managed with aqueous shunts for uncontrolled glaucoma between November 1990 and November 1996 were retrospectively reviewed. Ten eyes of 6 patients were included in the study.
Results: The mean preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) was 29.75 +/- 4.15 (mm Hg; SD), with none of the eyes on antiglaucoma medication. Postoperatively, the mean IOP was 18.25 +/- 5.34 (mm Hg; SD) at a mean follow up of 50 +/- 25.6 (SD) months with 7 eyes on topical antiglaucoma medication. At the final follow up, 6 eyes were considered successfully controlled without reintervention, 2 more were controlled after shunt revision, and 2 were considered failures.
Conclusions: Aqueous shunts were relatively effective in this series of infants with recalcitrant glaucoma.