Surgical Outcomes in Uveitic Glaucoma: Long-Term Evaluation of Trabeculectomy, Non-Penetrating Deep Sclerectomy, Ex-PRESS Shunt and Ahmed Glaucoma Valve. A 3-Year Follow-Up Study.

Purpose: Uveitis can lead to secondary glaucoma, a condition with challenging management that can carry irreversible visual loss. Filtering surgery has demonstrated a higher failure rate, increased incidence of postoperative complications and reinterventions in uveitic patients. There is no consensus on the optimal surgical approach for uveitic glaucoma (UG) due to limited data comparing various intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering surgeries. This retrospective cohort aims to assess the clinical outcomes of trabeculectomy (TBT), non-penetrating deep sclerectomy (NPDS), Ex-PRESS shunt and Ahmed glaucoma valve, providing additional insights into the long-term IOP control and safety of filtering surgeries in UG.

Methods: The filtering surgery was performed on 32 eyes of 27 UG patients. Complete success was defined as IOP ≤ 18 mmHg or a 30% reduction. Qualified success allowed topical hypotensive treatment.

Results: Complete success was 40.63% (13/32) at 12 months and 36.67% (11/30) at 36 months. Qualified success was 84.38% (27/32) at 12 months and 63.33% (19/30) at 36 months. In the survival analysis, both NPDS and Ex-PRESS demonstrated decreased failure rates compared to TBT (NPDS vs TBT: HR = 0.20, p = 0.049; Ex-PRESS vs TBT: HR = 0.28, p = 0.13). One or more reinterventions were required in 34.38% (11/32) of the eyes. NPDS had the lowest incidence of hypotony. Secondary cataract was a common complication in all groups.

Conclusion: Various filtering surgeries are safe and effective procedures for lowering IOP and reducing the requirement of topical antihypertensives in UG at 36 months. However, one-third of the patients will require another IOP-lowering procedure.