Abstract
Purpose:
To evaluate changes in endothelial count cell subsequent to Ahmed valve implant for the treatment of glaucoma.
Methods:
We designed a prospective longitudinal interventional analytical study. We prospectively evaluated the change in number and density of endothelial cells in 33 patients who had undergone Ahmed valve implantation for treatment of glaucoma. Specular microscopy and corneal pachymetry were performed, before surgery, also 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Furthermore, OCT Visante of the anterior chamber was performed to determine the exact location and characteristics of the valve tube after surgery.
Results:
Preliminary Results. A total of 33 patients (33 eyes) were analized, preoperative data obtained mean age 57.05 ± 11.99, endothelial cell average count 1982.87 ± 580.35 cells/µm2, variation coefficient 48.23 ± 17.28, corneal pachymetry average of 558 ± 38.34 microns. The primary diagnosis was neovascular glaucoma(53.3%). One month follow up we found an average loss cell count of 509.26 ± 313.65 (18%).
Conclusions:
The percentage of endothelial loss was higher than reported in previous studies (15.3% at one year), it remains to observe the behavior of endothelial cell count in subsequent months and the association of risk factors.