title: Intermediate outcomes of Ahmed glaucoma valve surgery in Asian patients with intractable glaucoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation in Asian patients with refractory glaucoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a retrospective interventional case series conducted at a single institution between January 2004 and January 2006. The study population included 91 patients (91 eyes).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 70 patients were successfully treated (74.5%). Postoperatively, the median intraocular pressures declined significantly to 13 mm Hg (interquartile range: 10-20 mm Hg) on day 1 (P<0.001) and 17 mm Hg (interquartile range: 12-19 mm Hg) at the last follow-up examination (P<0.001). The cumulative probability of success according to Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis was 74% at 12 months and 43% at 2 years. Hazard of failure increased slightly with age, HR: 1.03 (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.00-1.05; P=0.044). The most common complication was hyphaemia at 12.77%. There were no serious complications involving loss of visual acuity or sight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AGV implantation is an acceptable treatment for refractory glaucoma in high-risk patients with few additional options.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, National Defense Medical Center, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors: M-C
authors: MC
authors: Tai
authors: J-H
authors: JH
authors: Cheng
authors: J-T
authors: JT
authors: Chen
authors: C-M
authors: CM
authors: Liang
authors: D-W
authors: DW
authors: Lu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D020327:Glaucoma Drainage Implants; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity