title: Efficacy of the Ahmed glaucoma valve implant in eyes with refractory glaucoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Implantation of glaucoma drainage devices is currently considered as a good alternative to the traditional treatment of refractory glaucoma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Ahmed glaucoma valve implant in eyes with refractory glaucoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study included 27 eyes from 27 patients with refractory glaucoma treated with the Ahmed glaucoma valve implant between February 1995 and January 2000. We reviewed the final intraocular pressure and incidence of complications in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common aetiology of refractory glaucoma was open-angle glaucoma (48.1%) followed by neovascular glaucoma (29.6%). After a mean follow-up of 35.74 months (range 9-52 months), the mean intraocular pressure decreased from 35.66 mm Hg before surgery to 14 mm Hg on the last follow-up visit after surgery. Thus, the procedure was successful in 69.23% of cases. Nine patients (33.33%) achieved reduced intraocular pressure without additional antiglaucomatous medication. Transient postoperative hypotony of < 5 mm Hg occurred in 14.8 % of patients. This was, with transient hyphaema, the most common postoperative complication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Ahmed glaucoma valve implant seems to be effective and safe for the management of refractory glaucoma. However, it is less effective in case of neovascular glaucoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of ophthalmology Habib Thameur Hospital Tunis.
authors.forename: Mohamed Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: El Afrit
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trojet
authors.forename: Hela
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mazlout
authors.forename: Malek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamdouni
authors.forename: Abdelhafidh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kraiem
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D018463:Filtering Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D020327:Glaucoma Drainage Implants / Q000009:adverse effects; D015355:Glaucoma, Neovascular / Q000150:complications; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity