Baerveldt tube shunt implantation through a long scleral tunnel

Purpose: To develop a new technique for the placement of a Baerveldt glaucoma implant tube through a long scleral tunnel. Materials and methods: Patients with refractory glaucoma undergoing the maximum tolerated medical therapy were recruited. We created a scleral tunnel with a 24-gauge catheter needle and used the external tube for guidance when introducing a Baerveldt glaucoma implant tube. Main outcome measures included intraocular pressure, supplemental medical therapy score, intraoperative complications, and postoperative complications. Results: Nine eyes of six patients were included in the study. The mean preoperative intraocular pressure (score) was 41.0 mmHg (4.78). Mean postoperative intraocular pressures were 18.3 mmHg (0.22), 18.8 mmHg (0.13), and 16.9 mmHg (0.50) at postoperative 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively. Minor vitreous hemorrhages were observed in three cases. Postoperative hypotony (