title: [A clinical study of the Ahmed glaucoma valve implant in refractory glaucoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess clinical outcomes of the Ahmed glaucoma valve implant in patients with refractory glaucoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  15 patients (16 eyes), including 7 women and 8 men; patients with glaucoma: phakic- 10 eyes, pseudophakic - 4 eyes, and aphakic - 2 eyes, average age: 47.2 (18-72 years old), average IOP before the intervention: 47 mmHg (32-71 mmHg), average number of medications taken before the intervention: 3.0.
  
  
  METHODS
  Success was defined as IOP less than or equal to 21 mmHg and no need to perform another surgical intervention. Average period of observation was 23.2 months (6-42 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intervention was successful in 12 out of 16 eyes. Average number of medicaments taken after the intervention decreased to 1.2. 4 out of 16 patients had a hypertensive phase. Cumulative probabilities of success at 1 and 2 years were 88% and 72% respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  hyphema - 4 eyes (25%), tube exposure - 1 eye (6.25%), corneal graft failure - 4 eyes (25%), hypertensive phase - 4 eyes (25%) anterior chamber shallowing - 2 eyes (12.5%)
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Ahmed glaucoma valve implant is an effective way of treating the patients with refractory glaucoma.
authors.affiliation: Z Oddziału Okulistyki Okregowego Szpitala Kolejowego w Katowicach.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wylegała
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tarnawska
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lyssek-Boroń
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bilińska
authors.forename: Antonina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jurewicz
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petela
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D020327:Glaucoma Drainage Implants; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity