Tube Flow Shunt: An Innovative and Cost-Effective Approach to the Modified Bleb-Forming Filtration Technique
Aiming to lower intraocular pressure, trabeculectomy remains the gold standard procedure. This report describes a novel, cost-effective modified bleb-forming filtration technique, tFlow (tube flow shunt), utilizing sterile trimmed silicone tubes from the Ahmed Glaucoma Valve (AGV), model FP7, to construct a subconjunctival filtration pathway. Here, clinical outcomes are not reported and will be evaluated in a future study. While initial findings suggest it may provide a viable alternative to other modified bleb-forming filtration techniques involving commercial devices like PreserFlo MicroShunt, EX-PRESS Glaucoma Filtration Device, and XEN Gel Stent, further investigation is necessary. Additional patient inclusion and comparative studies with different bleb-forming filtration techniques are potential areas for future research.
Authors
- Md Iftekher Iqbal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3501-6187)
Institutions
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- He Eye Hospital (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cureus
- Published
- 2025-04-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.82399
- Primary Topic
- Glaucoma and retinal disorders
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00