Diverting Aqueous Humor to Distant Sites in Severe Glaucoma – An Update

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To shunt aqueous to an epithelialized cavity where a high resistance capsule is unlikely to form Methods: 20 eyes of 19 patients with severe eye pathology (19 with keratoprosthesis, 1 without) had a shunt tube from a specially designed Ahmed valve connected to the maxillary sinus (10), ethmoid sinuses (6), lacrimal sac (2), or lower lid fornix (2). The patients have been followed for 1 to 31 months Results: No endophthalmitis has occurred – the shunt system is unidirectional. 14 of the patients have IOP's in the low teens without glaucoma medications. 2 valve housings had to be removed, 2 patients required additional medication and 2 had further procedures Conclusions: So far these methods have not caused any endophthalmitis. In the majority of the patients the intraocular pressure is presently well regulated without medication

Keywords: aqueous • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: systems/equipment/techniques