The Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation for refractory glaucoma

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of the Ahmed Glaucoma Valve implant in the treatment of refractory glaucoma.

Methods: 28 cases(29 eyes) of refractory glacucoma were treated by the Ahmed glaucoma Valve implant, including 10 cases (10 eyes) of neovascula glaucoma, 5 cases (6 eyes) of juvenile glaucoma and 13 cases (13 eyes) of other causes glaucoma.

Results: Post-operative follow-up time was 3-12 months. The intraocular pressure (IOP) was lowered from preoperative 40.9 +/- 7.32 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) to postoperative 20.63 +/- 2.75 mmHg in Neovascular glaucoma; from preoperative 41 +/- 5.66 to postoperative 18.00 +/- 2.12 mmHg in glaucoma after IOL implant combined with vitrectomy operation; from preoperative 33.65 +/- 5.28 to postoperative 16.45 +/- 1.48 mmHg in juvenile glaucoma; from preoperative 31.43 +/- 4.13 to postoperative 18.13 +/- 1.25 mmHg in the failure conventional filtering surgery of glaucoma. The postoperative complicatons were flat anterior chamber, hyphema, anterior iritis and so on.

Conclusions: The Ahmed glaucoma valve implant is a useful method in lowing IOP of refractory glaucoma.