J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1997 Feb;38(2):259-266.

Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Implant in Refractory Glaucoma

• Hu CH
• Lee YG
• Hong YJ

Abstract

We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of Ahmed Glaucoma Valve implant, an aqueous shunting device that has a unidirectional valve mechanism designed to prevent postoperative hypotony in eyes with refractory glaucoma. Twenty eyes(16 patients) that had not responsed to medical treatment and previous glaucoma surgery were enrolled in this study. Success was defined as intraocular pressure(IOP) less than 22 mmHg and greater than 6 mmHg for 3 months or longer. Mean preoperative IOP was 19.7 +or- 6.1 mmHg. The IOP was decreased to 12.0 +or- 8.0 mmHg at postoperative 1 day and then relatively well controlled to postoperative 6 months. The major complications were immediate hypotony(20%), hyphema(10%), corneal decompensation(10%), flat anterior chamber(5%) and others. Although the success rate of Ahmed Glaucoma Valve implant is similar to that of other drainage devices, the complications associated with overflitration in the immediate postoperative period appear to be less frequent than with other valved drainage devices.

Keyword

Ahmed Glaucoma Valve implant; hypotony; Refractory glaucoma

MeSH Terms

Drainage
Glaucoma Drainage Implants
Glaucoma*
Postoperative Period