Ahmed Glaucoma Valve implantation in African American and white patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the results of Ahmed Glaucoma Valve implantation in African American and white patients.


METHODS
In this retrospective, comparative case-control study, we reviewed 86 eyes of 86 patients, comparing the surgical outcomes in white patients (n = 43) with matched African American patients (n = 43). Success was defined as an intraocular pressure (IOP) between 6 mm Hg and 21 mm Hg with or without glaucoma medicines, without further glaucoma surgery, and without loss of light perception (definition 1) and an IOP between 6 mm Hg and 21 mm Hg and achievement of a 20% reduction in IOP from the preoperative level (definition 2).


RESULTS
The mean follow-up was 2.3 years for white patients and 2.5 years for African American patients (P = .50). At the last follow-up, the mean +/- SD IOP was 15.3 +/- 3.3 mm Hg and 15.3 +/- 3.5 mm Hg (P = .77) in white and African American patients, respectively. Life table analysis showed a significantly lower success rate for African American patients compared with white patients by both definition 1 (P = .03) and definition 2 (P = .006). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis detected African American race as a risk factor for surgical failure by both definitions. Visual outcomes and complications were comparable between the 2 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
African American patients have a greater risk of surgical failure after Ahmed Glaucoma Valve implantation compared with white patients.
Ishida
Kyoko
K
Hamilton Eye Institute, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis 38163, USA.
Netland
Peter A
PA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000601:surgery*; D020327:Glaucoma Drainage Implants; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure; D044465:White People