What Are Glaucoma Filtering & Valve Procedures?

A glaucoma valve is a medical shunt used in the treatment of glaucoma to reduce the eye's intraocular pressure (IOP). The glaucoma valve implant is used for glaucoma patients not responding to maximal medical therapy, with previous failed guarded filtering surgery (trabeculectomy) or in cases where conventional drainage surgery is unlikely to succeed. Common situations where the use of a glaucoma implant as a primary procedure is indicated include:

• Neovascular glaucoma -- glaucoma associated with vascular disease of the eye (often diabetes).
• Cases of Uveitis -- acute or chronic inflammation of the eye.
• Traumatic glaucoma -- glaucoma associated with injury to the eye.
• Silicone glaucoma -- glaucoma due to Silicone used to repair a detached retina.
• Infantile/Juvenile glaucoma -- often associated with developmental defects of the eye.