Surgical revision of glaucoma shunt implants

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of surgical revision of glaucoma shunt implants in patients with advanced glaucoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of 13 patients who underwent revision of their shunt i mplants were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Surgical success was achieved in: 3 of 3 patients (100%) with drai nage tube malposition or extrusion; 1 of 6 patients (17%) with occlusion of the intracameral portion of the drainage tube; and 1 of 4 patients (25%) w ith elevated intraocular pressure secondary to fibrous capsule formation ov er the implant. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical revision of glaucoma shunt implants is a useful proce dure in patients who develop tube malposition or extrusion, Surgical revisi on is much less effective in patients with tube occlusion or fibrous capsul e formation. Failure of the shunts due to recurrent fibrosis is commonly ob served.