Comparison of Pericardial Patch Graft Thickness for Glaucoma Implant, Using Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography

Purpose: To compare the thickness of the processed pericardial patch graft for glaucoma implant tube coverage using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Methods: Thicknesses of seven samples of two pericardial patch grafts (Tutoplast pericardium, IOP Inc, Costa Mesa, CA, USA; pericardium LYO, DCI Donor Services, Inc., Nashville, TN, USA) were measured using AS-OCT (CASIA2, Tomey Corporation, Nagoya, Japan). The thickness of each sample was measured at the center and eight points with 45-degree angular distance, 2 mm from the center. The thickness was measured using AS-OCT program tools. Results: The median thicknesses were 219 mu m for Tutoplast pericardium and 157 mu m for pericardium LYO. Tutoplast pericardium was significantly thicker than pericardium LYO (p = 0.001); pericardium LYO had a wider interquartile range within each sample, compared to Tutoplast pericardium (p = 0.017). Conclusions: The thickness of the Tutoplast pericardium was greater and less variable than that of the pericardium LYO. These findings should be considered when choosing processed pericardium for coverage of glaucoma implants.