Results of Alloplastic Tube Shunt Procedures Before, During, or After Penetrating Keratoplasty

Abstract

The association of glaucoma and penetrating keratoplasty presents a difficult management problem, particularly when medical therapy and conventional glaucoma surgery have failed. We have found alloplastic tube shunt surgery to be an effective method for intraocular pressure control in glaucomatous eyes subjected to penetrating keratoplasty. We report 46 patients who underwent alloplastic tube shunt implantation before (13 patients, group A), in combination with (17 patients, group B), or after (16 patients, group C) penetrating keratoplasty. All groups had significantly lowered intraocular pressure postoperatively. The most common complication was graft failure, in 31% of patients in group A, 29% in group B, and 44% in group C. Other postoperative complications and results including visual outcome are reviewed. Because the management of advanced glaucoma in patients undergoing keratoplasty is difficult, alloplastic tube shunt implantation should be considered.