In Vitro Analysis of Pressure Resistance in the Paul Glaucoma Implant and Ahmed ClearPath 250 With and Without Polypropylene Thread Inside the Tube.

Abstract

Purpose: Pressure resistance characteristics of the Paul glaucoma implant (PGI) and Ahmed ClearPath 250 (ACP), with and without the insertion of polypropylene thread in their tubes, were evaluated.

Methods: The in vitro flow pressure was evaluated at varying flow rates, both with and without threads (6-0 for PGI and 4-0 or 3-0 for ACP). Cross-sectional areas of the tube lumen and thread were measured to calculate pressure resistance using the Hagen-Poiseuille equation.

Results: For the PGI without the thread, the pressure remained relatively low and constant across all flow rates. In contrast, with the insertion of a 6-0 thread, there was a significant increase in pressure resistance, with the pressure increasing from 7.5 mm Hg at 1 µL/min to 43.8 mm Hg at 5 µL/min. For the ACP, the pressure resistance remained relatively constant across all flow rates without a thread and with either 4-0 or 3-0 threads. However, the pressure was higher with 3-0 threads compared with a 4-0 thread. The actual measured pressures agreed well with theoretical values in the no-thread conditions, but were consistently higher than the theoretical values in the threaded conditions.

Conclusions: Inserting polypropylene threads into the tubes of nonvalved glaucoma drainage devices significantly affects pressure resistance with various degree.

Translational relevance: PGI with a 6-0 polypropylene thread may not require external tube ligation to prevent hypotony, whereas ACP with a 4-0 thread likely requires additional ligation. Using a 3-0 thread in ACP may enhance pressure resistance sufficiently to avoid tube ligation, but this requires careful clinical consideration.