Glaucoma Drainage Implant Surgery and Ocular Surface Transplant Graft Preservation

Abstract

Glaucoma may develop or worsen after ocular surface transplantation and often requires surgical management for adequate intraocular pressure control. Traditional glaucoma filtering procedures in patients with prior ocular surface transplant may be problematic for several reasons, which include mechanical disruption of the pre-existing graft, epithelial and stem cell toxicity induced by antifibrotic agents, and increased risk of future corneal transplantation failure. We describe the implantation of a glaucoma drainage implant via a limbal-based conjunctival incision with tube placement in the ciliary sulcus in three eyes of two patients with prior ocular surface transplantation. At a follow-up interval of 3–7 months, all three eyes have excellent postoperative control of intraocular pressure, stable vision, and healthy ocular surface grafts.

• Glaucoma drainage device
• glaucoma tube shunt
• limbal stem-cell deficiency
• limbal stem-cell transplant
• ocular surface disease

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.