Draining the aqueous humour from the anterior chamber to the suprachoroidal space using a suprachoroidal silicone tube shunt implant is an effective way to lower intraocular pressure (IOP), according to a recent study published in the Journal of Glaucoma.

The study, led by Dr Metin Unal, Ulucanlar Eye Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, examined the efficacy and safety of using a suprachoridal drainage tube implant for the surgical treatment of glaucoma. There were a total of 24 eyes in the study, seven of which had previously undergone trabeculectomy. Pre-op measurements of the IOP and best-corrected visual acuities were taken and then again post-op at day 1, week 1, and at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 18 months.

It was found that the postoperative IOP’s were significantly lower than the preoperative measurements and the post-op mean±SD BCVA value on day 1 was significantly lower than the pre-op value. The success rates for the treatment was found to be much higher in cases that had not previously undergone trabeculectomy when compared with those that had. Failure, which was deemed as a post-op IOP > 21 mmHg, < 5 mmHg after 3 months or a need for further glaucoma surgery, occurred in seven eyes. Three of the eyes considered as failures underwent reoperation for glaucoma.

From the results it was concluded that in cases without prior trabeculectomy, drainage of aqueous humour from the anterior chamber to the suprachoroidal space through implantation of a silicone tube shunt could offer a preferential initial treatment. Also, the method was effective at reducing the IOP in glaucoma patients that had less risk of serious complications.