A clinical study of the Ahmed glaucoma valve implant in refractory glaucoma

OBJECTIVE: To assess clinical outcomes of the Ahmed glaucoma valve implant in patients with refractory glaucoma. PARTICIPANTS: 15 patients (16 eyes), including 7 women and 8 men; patients with glaucoma: phakic- 10 eyes, pseudophakic - 4 eyes, and aphakic - 2 eyes, average age: 47.2 (18-72 years old), average IOP before the intervention: 47 mmHg (32-71 mmHg), average number of medications taken before the intervention: 3.0. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Success was defined as IOP less than or equal to 21 mmHg and no need to perform another surgical intervention. Average period of observation was 23.2 months (6-42 months). RESULTS: Intervention was successful in 12 out of 16 eyes. Average number of medicaments taken after the intervention decreased to 1.2. 4 out of 16 patients had a hypertensive phase. Cumulative probabilities of success at 1 and 2 years were 88% and 72% respectively. COMPLICATIONS: hyphema - 4 eyes (25%), tube exposure - 1 eye (6.25%), corneal graft failure - 4 eyes (25%), hypertensive phase - 4 eyes (25%) anterior chamber shallowing - 2 eyes (12.5%) CONCLUSIONS: The Ahmed glaucoma valve implant is an effective way of treating the patients with refractory glaucoma.