Clinical Experience with the Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Implant in Refractory Glaucoma.

Lee, Hyun Joo; Choi, Kyu Ryong

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2006;47(6):933-940.
Published online June 30, 2006.

Clinical Experience with the Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Implant in Refractory Glaucoma.

The Institute of Ophthalmology and Optometry; Department of Ophthalmology, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ckrey02@ewha.ac.kr

난치성 녹내장에서 아메드 녹내장밸브 삽입술의 임상적 고찰

이현주,최규룡

The Institute of Ophthalmology and Optometry; Department of Ophthalmology, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence: Hyun Joo Lee, M.D.

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.

Key Words: Ahmed glaucoma valve;Intraocular pressure;Refractory glaucoma