PURPOSE: To determine the effectiveness of Nd:YAG laser membranectomy for reopening blocked glaucoma tube shunts and maintaining the patency over time. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively the records of 13 patients (13 eyes) who, during the period January 1990 through June 1996, underwent Nd:YAG laser membranectomy in an attempt to reopen a blocked glaucoma tube shunt. Intraocular pressure and tube patency were evaluated at each follow-up visit. RESULTS: Nd:YAG laser membranectomy effectively opened the blocked glaucoma tube shunts in 11 (84.6%) of 13 eyes. Two tubes could not be reopened. Reblockage occurred in seven eyes (53.8%) within the first 11 weeks; four tubes (30.8%) remained patent through follow-up periods of 39, 82, 106, and 169 weeks. Postlaser complications were moderate anterior chamber reaction in four eyes (30.8%), hyphema in two eyes (15.4%), corneal edema in two eyes (15.4%), pressure spike in one eye (7.7%), and shallow anterior chamber in one eye (7.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Nd:YAG laser membranectomy is effective in reopening blocked glaucoma tube shunts but is associated with a relatively high rate of subsequent reblockage in the initially successful cases.
PURPOSE: To determine the effectiveness of Nd:YAG laser membranectomy for reopening blocked glaucoma tube shunts and maintaining the patency over time. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively the records of 13 patients (13 eyes) who, during the period January 1990 through June 1996, underwent Nd:YAG laser membranectomy in an attempt to reopen a blocked glaucoma tube shunt. Intraocular pressure and tube patency were evaluated at each follow-up visit. RESULTS: Nd:YAG laser membranectomy effectively opened the blocked glaucoma tube shunts in 11 (84.6%) of 13 eyes. Two tubes could not be reopened. Reblockage occurred in seven eyes (53.8%) within the first 11 weeks; four tubes (30.8%) remained patent through follow-up periods of 39, 82, 106, and 169 weeks. Postlaser complications were moderate anterior chamber reaction in four eyes (30.8%), hyphema in two eyes (15.4%), corneal edema in two eyes (15.4%), pressure spike in one eye (7.7%), and shallow anterior chamber in one eye (7.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Nd:YAG laser membranectomy is effective in reopening blocked glaucoma tube shunts but is associated with a relatively high rate of subsequent reblockage in the initially successful cases.
Authors: Anton M Kolomeyer; H Jane Kim; Albert S Khouri; Paul J Lama; Robert D Fechtner; Marco A Zarbin; Neelakshi Bhagat Journal: Oman J Ophthalmol Date: 2012-01
Authors: Monica Kenney Ertel; Nathaniel Ryan Gelinas; Taylor John Slingsby; Leonard Keith Seibold; Malik Yaser Kahook; Jeffrey Raymond SooHoo Journal: BMC Ophthalmol Date: 2021-02-06 Impact factor: 2.209