PARS-PLANA IMPLANT AND VITRECTOMY FOR TREATMENT OF NEOVASCULAR GLAUCOMA

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of pars plana implants in the t reatment of neovascular glaucoma. Patients and Methods: Twenty-two con secutive pars plana implant procedures performed for neovascular glauc oma were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Preoperative intraocular p ressures ranged from 22 to 80 mmHg (mean 46 mmHg) on a mean of three g laucoma medications. With a mean follow-up interval of 16 months, fina l postoperative intraocular pressures ranged 9-21 mmHg (mean 16) on a mean 0.7 medications. One patient required a second implant to achieve final intraocular pressure control. Visual acuity was stabilized or i mproved in 19 of 22 cases (86%). Complications included retinal detach ment in two cases (9%). Macular pucker, vitreous hemorrhage, hyphema, choroidal hemorrhage, diplopia, and loss of light perception occurred in one case (5%) each. None developed phthisis bulbi. Conclusion: Pars plana drainage tube implants are effective in the treatment of neovas cular glaucoma.