[Clinical study of the pars plana Ahmed glaucoma valve implant in refractory glaucoma patients].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of pars plana implantation of the Ahmed glaucoma valve on refractory glaucoma.


METHODS
Five patients (5 eyes) (3 men, 2 women) were fitted with the Ahmed glaucoma valve. Mean age was 51.8 21.3 years, and mean follow-up was 9.4 +/- 2.6 months. Among the 5 eyes studied, 4 eyes were in neovascular glaucoma patients. Of these 4 eyes, 2 eyes were in diabetic retinopathy patients and 2 eyes were in a patient with central retinal vein occlusion. The remaining eye was in a developmental glaucoma patient. As a surgical procedure after pars plana vitrectomy, the inlet tube of the Ahmed glaucoma valve was placed in the posterior chamber.


RESULTS
The mean preoperative IOP of 46.8 +/- 15.7 mmHg (30-64 mmHg) under maximum tolerable medication was reduced to 16.0 +/- 2.0 mmHg (14-19 mmHg) after surgery. Postoperative visual acuity improved in 3 eyes, and the mean visual acuity in these eyes improved from 0.05 +/- 0.09 (sl.-0.07) to 0.17 +/- 0.3(0-0.7). A reduction in visual acuity was observed in 2 eyes; in one, due to retinal detachment, and in the other, due to transient high IOP and vitreous hemorrhage. The visual acuity improved in 60% of patients and the IOP controlled in 80% of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The implantation of the Ahmed glaucoma valve for refractory glaucoma was effective in our study.
Adachi
Hatsuto
H
Sensho-kai Eye Institute, Kyoto Prefecture 611-0043, Japan.
Takahashi
Hirokazu
H
Shoji
Takuhei
T
Okazaki
Kazushiro
K
Hayashi
Ken
K
Chihara
Etsuo
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D020327:Glaucoma Drainage Implants; D015355:Glaucoma, Neovascular / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome