Clinical results of Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation in refractory glaucoma with adjunctive mitomycin C.
OBJECTIVE
To study the surgical outcome and complications of Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation with mitomycin C (MMC) in refractory glaucoma.


METHODS
The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of 40 eyes in 37 consecutive patients who underwent combined AGV with MMC (0.4 mg/mL; 5 minutes). All patients had a minimum of 6 months of follow-up. Outcome measures were best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), the number of medications, success rates, and the incidence of complications.


RESULTS
The Kaplan-Meier life table analysis revealed that the probabilities of surgical success based on our success criteria at 1 year and 2 years postoperatively were 80% and 77%, respectively. Postoperative IOP was significantly lower at all follow-up intervals. At the final visit fewer glaucoma medications were used (2.5 vs 0.7, preoperative vs postoperative). The most frequent complication was hypotony (17%).


CONCLUSIONS
In this retrospective case series with relatively short follow-ups, AGV implantation with mitomycin C in refractory glaucoma appears to be effective without increased complication rates.
Kook
M S
MS
Department of Ophthalmology, Ulsan University School of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Yoon
J
J
Kim
J
J
Lee
M S
MS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D020327:Glaucoma Drainage Implants; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity
D016685:Mitomycin