Treatment Outcomes Following Resident Performed Nonvalved (Baerveldt 350) Glaucoma Drainage Device Implantation.

PRECIS: When compared with outcomes by glaucoma specialists in several prospective studies, residents at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center achieved comparable reductions in intraocular pressure (IOP) and failure rates during the year following Baerveldt drainage device implantation. PURPOSE: To review the outcomes of resident performed Baerveldt implantation through 1 year of postoperative management in a resident-run clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of all veterans at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center were searched to identify those with Baerveldt implantation by resident physicians from July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2017. Exclusion criteria include previous glaucoma tube or concurrent surgical intervention, including cataract extraction. All postoperative visits were reviewed and clinical data were collected. Failure was defined as 2 consecutive visits, starting at postoperative month (POM) 3, with IOP ≤5 mm Hg, or with IOP >21 mm Hg or <20% IOP reduction from baseline, reoperation for glaucoma, or loss of light perception. RESULTS: A total of 48 eyes were included with mean (SD) IOP and number of medications: baseline, 23.1 (6.7) mm Hg on 3.7 (1.0) medications; postoperative day 1, 20.5 (11.7) mm Hg on no medications; postoperative week 1, 14.3 (6.9) mm Hg and 1.9 (1.7) medications; POM1, 16.7 (6.4) mm Hg and 2.2 (1.5) medications; POM3, 15.1 (5.2) mm Hg and 2.1 (1.6) medications; POM6 12.8 (4.9) mm Hg and 2.8 (1.3) medications; POM12, 13.0 (4.0) mm Hg and 2.8 (1.4) medications. IOP decreased at all time intervals (P<0.01) but postoperative day 1 (P=0.15) while medication burden was reduced at every visit (P<0.01). Through 12 months, 8 patients (17%) failed with a time to failure of 9.2 (0.3) months. No patients underwent additional glaucoma surgical interventions or lost light perception. CONCLUSIONS: Residents can safely and efficaciously perform Baerveldt implantation, providing reassurance regarding the autonomy afforded residents in the operating room and clinic.

Simultaneous bilateral angle closure glaucoma in a patient with giant cell arteritis.

PURPOSE: To report a case of bilateral angle closure in a patient with giant cell arteritis. DESIGN: Observational case report. METHODS: Review of clinical, photographic, and biopsy data of a 53-year-old patient who presented with bilateral angle closure glaucoma and was found to have giant cell arteritis. RESULTS: A temporal artery biopsy revealed near transmural focal scarring of the media with disruption of the internal elastic lamina consistent with giant cell arteritis in a patient with bilateral angle closure glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: Acute angle closure glaucoma is a relatively uncommon form of glaucoma and its relationship, if any, with giant cell arteritis is unknown. This is the first reported case of giant cell arteritis presenting with bilateral acute angle closure glaucoma.