J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2006 Jun;47(6):933-940.

Clinical Experience with the Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Implant in Refractory Glaucoma

• Lee HJ
• Choi KR

Abstract

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy, safety, and clinical outcome of the Ahmed glaucoma valve implant in refractory glaucoma.
METHODS
We retrospectively studied 55 eyes of 55 patients who underwent Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation for refractory glaucoma unresponsive to conventional management. The mean follow-up period was 26.3+/-11.5 months. Surgical success was defined as an intraocular pressure between 5 and 21 mmHg regardless of glaucoma medication.
RESULTS
The reduction of intraocular pressure was statistically significant (p<0.05) and the number of glaucoma medications was decreased. The 1-year and 2-year success rates were 83.0% and 75.8%, respectively. Complications included hyphema in 9 eyes, hypotony with shallow anterior chamber in 2 eyes, choroidal detachment in 4 eyes, tube obstruction in 1 eye, tube migration in 2 eyes, and bullous keratopathy in 2 eyes.
CONCLUSIONS
Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation may provide good intraocular pressure control in patients with refractory glaucoma unresponsive to conventional treatments, and may be effective for reducing the incidence of hypotony in the early postoperative period.

Keyword

Ahmed glaucoma valve; Intraocular pressure; Refractory glaucoma

MeSH Terms

Anterior Chamber
Choroid
Follow-Up Studies
Glaucoma*
Humans
Hyphema
Incidence
Intraocular Pressure
Postoperative Period
Retrospective Studies