Purpose: To report the early results of suprachoroidal silicone implant surgery in intractable glaucoma.
Materials and methods: A modified silicone implant with no valve was implanted into the suprachoroidal space of 15 eyes with intractable glaucoma.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 53.0 ± 24.5 (range 7-85) years, the mean follow-up time was 17.1 ± 4.8 (range 10-28) months, and the mean preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) of patients receiving two or more medications was 33.1 ± 9.8 mmHg. At the last follow-up visit, mean IOP was 16.5 ± 7.9 (range 10-35) mmHg (Wilcoxon signed rank test, p = 0.001). The functional success, i.e., IOP ≤21 mmHg both with and without antiglaucomatous drugs, was 93.3%. The total success rate, i.e., IOP ≤21 mmHg without medication, was 13.3%. The average number of antiglaucomatous drugs used was 3.8 (range 2-5) preoperatively, and 2.2 postoperatively (range 0-4) (Wilcoxon signed rank test, p = 0.011). There was a ≥30% decrease in the IOP of 66.6% of the eyes. Shallow choroidal detachment as proof of drainage was evident in all cases.
Conclusion: Drainage of the aqueous humor from the anterior chamber to the suprachoroidal space via implantation of a modified silicone implant is effective in lowering the IOP in intractable glaucoma.