Aims This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Gold Micro Shunt (GMS) for suprachoroidal drainage in patients with refractory glaucoma.

Methods This is a prospective uncontrolled case series study. Fifty-five eyes of 55 patients were included. Study eyes underwent GMS implantation in the supraciliary space. Follow-up visits were performed on day 1, week 1 and months 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24; patients underwent slit-lamp examination, Goldmann applanation tonometry, ultrasound biomicroscopy and gonioscopy.

Results Before inclusion, the eyes underwent an average (±SD) of 1.9±0.7 (range 1–5) previous glaucoma surgery procedures. Forty eyes were pseudophakic, 12 were phakic and 3 were aphakic. The mean baseline intraocular pressure was 30.8±8.8 mm Hg (range 22–58 mm Hg) despite maximal medical treatment. After 2 years of follow-up, qualified success was achieved in 37 eyes (67.3%) and complete success was achieved in 3 eyes (5.5%). In success group patients, mean intraocular pressure decreased from 27.6±6.9 at baseline to 13.7±2.98 mm Hg after 2 years of follow-up; the mean (±SD) number of medications was 1.4±0.7 in the postoperative phase, compared with a value of 2.5±0.9 in the preoperative phase. Mild side effects occurred in 21 patients, with mild or moderate postoperative hyphema being the most frequent one. Development of a thin membrane, obstructing the anterior holes, was the most important factor affecting the efficacy of this device; it was found to be present in 12 patients from the failure group (66.7% of failures).

Conclusion GMS achieved qualified success in about 67.3% of eyes with uncontrolled refractory glaucoma with a low rate of complications.