Tube-Shunt Bleb Pathophysiology, the Cytokine Story

Conclusions:

Tube shunts are conduits transporting aqueous from within the eye to the subconjunctival space. The ultimate end result is to create a drainage bleb over the tube plate. The formation of the bleb is controlled by multifactorial components, including age of the patient, racial background, presurgical IOP, and thereby aqueous cytokine content, and patient’s individual reaction to the presence of a foreign body beneath the conjunctiva. Prolonged IOP within the bleb results in cytokine production by the bleb lining. Occluding the tube of a failed implant can prevent damage to a new implant in a different eye quadrant.

Source: Journal of Glaucoma - January 1, 2021 Category: Opthalmology Tags: Review Article Source Type: research