Surgical outcomes of Ahmed gluacoma valve implantation in pseudoexfoliative glaucoma

Purpose

Pseudoexfoliation is considered to be the most common identifiable cause of open angle glaucoma worldwide and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PEXG) patients often require surgical intervention. But no studies are available reporting surgical outcomes of Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation in PEXG. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of AGV implantation in PEXG patients.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of 27 eyes of PEXG patients who underwent AGV implantation (n = 14) or trabeculectomy (n = 13) and 13 eyes of primary open angle glaucoma

(POAG) patients who underwent AGV implantation as a primary surgical option was conducted. Postoperative intraocular pressure, number of medications and complications were compared between 3 groups.

Results

At postoperative 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, intraocular pressure and number of medications were similar between 3 groups. Rates of transient hypotony were significantly lower in PEXG eyes with AGV implantation (14.3%) in comparison with those with trabeculectomy (61.5%, p = 0.018).

Conclusions

AGV implantation as a primary surgical treatment in PEXG patients produced similar intraocular pressure reduction and numbers of medications compared with AGV implantation in POAG patients and trabeculectomy in PEXG patients. And It offers advantage of reduced rate of transient hypotony over trabeculectomy in PEXG. Therefore, AGV implantation may be promising alternative in surgical management of this type of glaucoma.