Clinical experience with the Ahmed glaucoma valve implant in complicated glaucoma.
BACKGROUND
To assess clinical outcomes of the Ahmed glaucoma valve implant, an aqueous shunting device with a unidirectional valve mechanism, in eyes with refractory glaucoma.


METHODS
Consecutive patients with intractable glaucoma who underwent Ahmed glaucoma valve insertion were retrospectively reviewed. Only patients with a minimum of 6 months of follow-up were included. The presence of intraocular pressure (IOP) > or = 22 mmHg in the first 6 postoperative months was defined as a hypertensive phase (HP). This study included 19 eyes in 19 patients.


RESULTS
The mean preoperative IOP was 32.1 +/- 6.9 mmHg, with medication (mean times medication administered, 3.8 +/- 1.0; range, 0-3). The mean postoperative IOP was 7.8 +/- 2.2 mmHg on day 1, 11.3 +/- 4.4 mmHg at 1 week, 19.1 +/- 7.7 mm Hg at 1 month, 16.5 +/- 6.4 mmHg at 3 months, and 17.5 +/- 0.7 mmHg at 6 months, respectively. Twelve patients (63.2%) exhibited the HP. Nine patients (49.3%) experienced the HP at 1 month and 3 patients at 2 months after the operation. At the end of 6 months of follow-up, 11 patients (57.9%) who had exhibited the HP required additional anti-glaucoma medication to control the IOP (mean times medication was administered, 1.0 +/- 1.1; range, 0-2). Complications associated with the valve included hyphema in 1 case, choroidal effusion in 2 cases, iris plugging of the tube in 1 case, bleb encapsulation in 3 cases, and PK graft failure in 1 case. Postoperative hypotony resolved within 1 week.


CONCLUSIONS
The Ahmed glaucoma valve implant was safe and effective in this series. The hypertensive phase peaked in the first to second months after surgery.
Wu
Shiu-Chen
SC
Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei. shiuchen@cgmh.org.tw
Huang
Samuel C M
SC
Lin
Ken-Kuo
KK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery*; D020327:Glaucoma Drainage Implants; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies