title: Experience with the use of Baerveldt and Ahmed glaucoma drainage implants in an Asian population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Baerveldt and Ahmed glaucoma drainage implants in Asian patients with refractory glaucoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective nonrandomized study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors reviewed the insertion of 18 Ahmed glaucoma valved (AGV-S2) implants and 24 350 mm(2) Baerveldt glaucoma implants performed by a single surgeon at the Department of Ophthalmology, National University Hospital, Singapore, from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2000. A total of 42 glaucoma drainage implants was inserted into the eyes of 41 patients. All patients had at least 6 months of follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity, and complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both drainage implants achieved remarkable reductions in IOP; from pretreatment IOP of 40.1+/-13.8 mmHg and 43.7+/-9.3 mmHg to postoperative IOP of 17.4+/-6.2 and 14.9+/-5.5 mmHg in the Baerveldt and Ahmed groups, respectively. A decrease in IOP of 56.6% and 65.9% had been achieved. Success rates were 20 (83.3%) for Baerveldt and 12 (66.7%) for Ahmed implants, whereas qualified success occurred in 1 (4.2%) Baerveldt and 3 (16.7%) Ahmed implants. Conversely, failure to control IOP occurred in 3 (12.5%) Baerveldt implants and 3 (16.7%) Ahmed implants. More than 80% of the patients had maintained or improved visual function, whereas only 4 (16.0%) of the patients with Baerveldt implants and 2 (16.7%) patients with Ahmed implants had loss of more than 1 Snellen line.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both Baerveldt and Ahmed glaucoma drainage implants performed well in terms of IOP control, preservation of visual function, and having low complication rates.
authors.affiliation: Singapore National Eye Center, Singapore.
authors.forename: Jenn-C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jovina L S
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: See
authors.forename: Paul T K
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Chew
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000601:surgery*; D020327:Glaucoma Drainage Implants; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity