Long-term results of silicone tube in filtering surgery for eyes with neovascular glaucoma.

We operated on 59 eyes with advanced neovascular glaucoma (37 eyes in diabetic patients and 22 eyes in patients with central retinal vein occlusion) using a trabeculectomy technique that includes a simple silicone tube as the draining element. Mean (+/- 1 S.D.) intraocular pressure preoperatively was 57 +/- 8.7 mm Hg. During follow-up periods ranging from one to five years, the mean intraocular pressure decreased to 27 +/- 16.5 mm Hg. Adequate control of intraocular pressure (24 mm Hg or less) was achieved in 37 eyes (63%). Only four eyes required enucleation. Nine silicone tubes had to be removed because of necrosis of the scleral flap and conjunctival perforation or because they were expulsed. Surgery relieved the severe ocular pain even when intraocular pressure was not satisfactorily controlled.