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Purpose To present and compare the long-term results of Dr. Tamcelik’s previously described technique of Tenon advancement and duplication with the conventional Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation technique in patients with refractory glaucoma. Methods This study was a multicenter, retrospective case series that included 303 eyes of 276 patients with refractory glaucoma who underwent glaucoma valve implantation surgery. The patients were divided into three groups according to the surgical technique applied and the outcomes compared. In group 1, 96 eyes of 86 patients underwent AGV implant surgery without patch graft; in group 2, 78 eyes of 72 patients underwent AGV implant surgery with donor scleral patch; in group 3, 129 eyes of 118 patients underwent Ahmed valve implant surgery with “combined short scleral tunnel with Tenon advancement and duplication technique”. The endpoint assessed was tube exposure through the conjunctiva. Results In group 1, conjunctival tube exposure was seen in 11 eyes (12.9 %) after a mean 9.2 ± 3.7 years of follow-up. In group 2, conjunctival tube exposure was seen in six eyes (2.2 %) after a mean 8.9 ± 3.3 years of follow-up. In group 3, there was no conjunctival exposure after a mean 7.8 ± 2.8 years of follow-up. The difference between the groups was statistically significant. ( P  = 0.0001, Chi-square test). Conclusion This novel surgical technique combining a short scleral tunnel with Tenon advancement and duplication was found to be effective and safe to prevent conjunctival tube exposure after AGV implantation surgery in patients with refractory glaucoma.

Glaucoma filtration surgery is one of the most effective methods for lowering intraocular pressure in glaucoma. The surgery efficiently reduces intra-ocular pressure but the most common cause of failure is scarring at the incision site. This occurs in the conjunctiva/Tenon's capsule layer overlying the scleral coat of the eye. Currently used antimetabolite treatments to prevent post-surgical scarring are non-selective and are associated with potentially blinding side effects. Developing new treatments to target scarring requires both a better understanding of wound healing and scarring in the conjunctiva, and new means of delivering anti-scarring drugs locally and sustainably. By combining plastic compression of collagen gels with a soft collagen-based layer, we have developed a physiologically relevant model of the sub-epithelial bulbar conjunctiva/Tenon's capsule interface, which allows a more holistic approach to the understanding of subconjunctival tissue behaviour and local drug delivery. The biomimetic tissue hosts both primary human conjunctival fibroblasts and an immune component in the form of macrophages, morphologically and structurally mimicking the mechanical proprieties and contraction kinetics of ex vivo porcine conjunctiva. We show that our model is suitable for the screening of drugs targeting scarring and/or inflammation, and amenable to the study of local drug delivery devices that can be inserted in between the two layers of the biomimetic. We propose that this multicellular-bilayer engineered tissue will be useful to study complex biological aspects of scarring and fibrosis, including the role of inflammation, with potentially significant implications for the management of scarring following glaucoma filtration surgery and other anterior ocular segment scarring conditions. Crucially, it uniquely allows the evaluation of new means of local drug delivery within a physiologically relevant tissue mimetic, mimicking intraoperative drug delivery in vivo.

Purpose To assess the effectiveness and safety of the “hydro-fluorescein” adjunct technique for primary pterygium removal. Design/methods A non-randomized prospective study was conducted for various types of pterygium excision with superior bulbar conjunctival autograft (CAG) and fibrin glue. We introduced fluorescein staining to ensure thorough elimination of the Tenon tissue around the bare sclera area and the CAG. The primary outcome was the recurrence rate, and the secondary outcome was any complication associated with fluorescein staining. Results Ninety-three participants with primary pterygium of Grades 1–3 were recruited and all completed follow-up for at least 1 year. No recurrence was identified during the follow-up period and no long-term adverse reactions were reported with the “hydro-fluorescein” method. Conclusion “Hydro-fluorescein” is effective and a safe adjunct in primary pterygium removal and is effective in various grades of pterygia to minimize recurrence with no adverse reaction within 1 year.

OBJECTIVES: To describe conjunctiva and Tenon's capsule handling during the Port Delivery System with ranibizumab (PDS) implant insertion procedure including up-front assessments, planning, and instrumentation, with emphasis placed on the peritomy, scleral dissection, and closure steps. METHODS: Surgical pearls based on experience accumulated in the PDS clinical trial program in patients with retinal diseases. RESULTS: Preoperative preparation, specific instruments, and meticulous techniques are key to optimizing surgical outcomes. Before surgery, assessment of factors that affect conjunctival integrity and an in-office conjunctiva examination are conducted. Gentle, purposeful conjunctiva and Tenon's capsule handling with nontoothed forceps and suturing with a BV needle are recommended to prevent tissue damage. The peritomy is 6 mm by 6 mm, centered around the planned implant location in the superotemporal quadrant. A complete sub-Tenon's capsule dissection is achieved using a wide, robust lateral and posterior dissection technique to free tissue from the sclera and minimize tension. The globe is stabilized during scleral cutdown by grasping the sclera with fine-toothed forceps away from the incision edge to prevent tissue delamination. When closing the peritomy, both the conjunctiva and Tenon's capsule are completely captured and sutured with scleral anchoring at the apex of the peritomy to help prevent conjunctival retraction and erosion. Mitigation and detection of adverse events is critical to successful surgical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The PDS implant insertion procedure is straightforward, but it requires planned preoperative preparation, specific instruments, and meticulous techniques. The surgical pearls described here offer insights for optimizing outcomes. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2022;53:266–273.]

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of an modified surgical technique using scleral tunneling and Tenon’s capsule for implantation of the Ahmed Glaucoma Drainage Valve (AGV) in refractory glaucoma. Methods This research involved the retrospective collection of data from 78 patients diagnosed with refractory glaucoma who underwent implantation of the AGV using a modified technique combining scleral tunneling with autologous Tenon’s capsule. The analysis focused on preoperative and 60-month postoperative indices, which included the surgical technique employed, intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements, the utilization of antiglaucoma medications, rates of surgical success, and the incidence of postoperative complications. Results The findings suggest that the modified surgical technique exhibited an accuracy in the placement of implants. It also achieved remarkable postoperative control of IOP. The average IOP of the enrolled patients decreased from a preoperative maximum of 44.5 mmHg to 18.62 mmHg at 60 months postoperatively. Additionally, the usage of antiglaucoma medications decreased from an average of 2.88 preoperative medications to 1.76 medications at 60 months postoperatively. The rates of surgical success were recorded at 85.90% at 12 months, 82.54% at 24 months, 76.60% at 36 months, 71.88% at 48 months, and 66.67% at 60 months following the surgical procedure. It is noteworthy that no severe complications, including drain valve exposure and endophthalmitis, were reported. Conclusions The modified AGV implantation technique effectively regulated IOP, reduced medication dependence, and minimized severe complications. However, limitations such as small sample size and lack of a control group necessitate further large-scale trials to confirm its efficacy.

To find safer and more effective drugs than mitomycin C to prevent conjunctival fibrosis in a rabbit model. Twenty-four rabbits were involved and randomly divided into four groups. Limbus-based peritomy was performed at the superior cornea, and normal saline (NS group), mitomycin C (MMC group), SR (SR group), or TC (TC group)-coated silicone plate was inserted at the sub-Tenon's space in each group. Conjunctival congestion was evaluated at 1 and 4 weeks postoperatively. At 4 weeks, the numbers of inflammatory cells, fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, blood vessels, and goblet cells were counted in the conjunctiva and Tenon's capsule around the silicone plate. At 4 weeks, conjunctival congestion was significantly less than that observed at 1 week in the SR and TC groups (p < 0.05), whereas the number of myofibroblasts was significantly lower in the MMC and TC groups (p < 0.05). The conjunctiva was significantly less congested in the TC group versus the other groups at 1 week and 4 weeks (p < 0.05). The TC group had the lowest number of inflammatory cells and MMC group had the lowest number of goblet cells among all groups (p < 0.05). The TC-coated silicone plate was more effective in inhibiting inflammation and fibrosis versus the MMC-coated silicone plate and was associated with fewer adverse effects in the rabbit model.

Background To describe a new technique and present its long-term outcome for prevention of Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) tube exposure in patients with refractory glaucoma. Methods Twenty-seven eyes of 24 patients (mean age, 50 years; age range, 16–78 years; 8 females, 16 males) with refractory glaucoma who had the AGV implant were retrospectively reviewed. For AGV implantation, a long scleral flap combined with Tenon advancement and duplication was used. In this technique, a long scleral flap is created to completely cover the extraocular part of valve’s tube, and the flap surface is covered with duplicated Tenon’s tissue. The average follow-up after AGV implantation was 21.7 months (range, 12–36 months). Results The mean intraocular pressure before the operation, which was 44.1 mmHg (range, 26–62 mmHg), decreased to 14.2 mmHg (range, 8–20 mmHg) at the last follow-up visit, showing 67% reduction with AGV implantation. The mean number of antiglaucomatous medications was 4.1 before the AGV implantation and decreased to 0.9 after the operation, showing 88% reduction. In 14 eyes (51.9%), there was no change in the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and in 11 eyes (40.7%), the BCVA increased by 2 lines on the Snellen chart postoperatively. No patient developed postoperative hypotony, flat anterior chamber, diplopia, strabismus, erosion or exposure of the tube, or tube/plate migration. Conclusions The long scleral flap augmented with Tenon advancement and duplication is an effective and safe surgical technique for the implantation of AGV and preventing tube exposure in cases of refractory glaucoma.

Purpose To investigate the intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering mechanisms of deep sclerectomy (DS) with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Methods In a prospective cross-sectional study, AS-OCT parameters were compared between DS, trabeculectomy and control cases. Association with IOP and success (IOP≤16 mm Hg without medication) was investigated. Results 18 DS (15 patients), 17 trabeculectomy (16 patients) and 15 controls (15 patients) were examined. Successful had a taller intrascleral lake (IL) and thicker conjunctival/Tenon's layer (CTL) than non-successful cases (513.3 vs 361.1 µm, p=0.027 and 586.7 vs 251.1 µm, p<0.001, respectively). CTL thickness correlated with IOP (r=−0.6407, p=0.004). CTL thickness was significantly different between controls, DS and trabeculectomy (mean (SD): 203.3 (62.6) vs 418.9 (261.9) vs 604.1 (220.7) µm, p<0.0001). Successful trabeculectomy cases had a taller bleb cavity (BC) than non-successful cases (607.5 vs 176.7 µm, p=0.041). CTL microcysts were detected in 50% of DS and 52.9% of trabeculectomy cases (p=1). Conclusions Trans-conjunctival aqueous percolation was identified as a novel DS drainage route. DS had a fluid reservoir below the scleral flap, the IL, in analogy to the trabeculectomy BC. A postoperative tall IL and a thick CTL were associated with good outcome.

Purpose To describe a simple and effective technique for the prevention of pterygium recurrence. Methods This is a retrospective consecutive single-center case series with recurrence rate as the main outcome measure. Dissection of the conjunctiva, the Tenon’s layer, and the sclera was continued up to the insertion of medial rectus. The exposed Tenon’s layer was excised for 2 to 3 mm. The entire free edges of the conjunctiva was tacked firmly to the sclera. The conjunctival-limbal graft was sutured firmly to the sclera, recipient limbus, and to the conjunctiva incorporating the reciprocal edges. Results We report findings in a total of 36 patients, with 20 (%55.5) males and 16 (%44.4) females. Median age of the patients was 44.5 years (range 16–80). The mean follow-up period was 23.1 ± 6.5 months. The mean size of pterygium in mm length was 3.8 ± 0.7. Recurrence did not occur in any patient. Diplopia was not reported by any patients. Conclusions Conjunctival-limbal autograft combining with selective exicison of Tenon’s layer but without damage to any essential tissue such as the semilunar fold or Tenon’s capsule pulley is a relatively simple and effective procedure.