Deep Sclerectomy with Nonabsorbable Implant (T-Flux) in Patients with Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma

Abstract

Purpose. To evaluate the effectiveness of deep sclerectomy with T-flux implant (DS T-flux) in patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PExG). Methods. 20 eyes of 18 patients with medically uncontrolled PExG have undergone DS T-flux implantation. Postoperatively we evaluated the IOP values and the frequency of complications. The minimum follow-up time was 12 months (20 eyes) and the maximum 24 months (10 eyes). Results. The mean preoperative IOP was 36.8±8.7 mmHg. The IOP significantly decreased throughout all postoperative periods (P<0.05) and reached 1 day after surgery 11.45±6.6 mmHg; 3 months 13.45±3.6 mmHg; 12 months 14±2.8 mmHg; and 24 months 14.80±2.4 mmHg. Complete success rate, defined as IOP ≤ 18 mmHg without medication, was 85% (17/20 eyes) at 12 months. Qualified success rate, defined as IOP ≤ 18 mmHg with or without medication, was 100% (20/20 eyes). The most frequent postoperative complications were mild hyphaema (9 patients, 45%), choroidal detachment (3 patients, 15%), and hypotony - IOP < 5 mmHg (2 patients, 10%). Conclusions. DS with T-flux implant is a safe and effective surgical treatment method for medically uncontrolled PExG. The number of complications is low.