Abstract
Purpose :
The Ahmed valve implant is used to decrease intraocular pressure in neovascular and refractory glaucomas. This study will compare the outcome of Ahmed valve implants in patients with non-neovascular glaucoma and neovascular glaucoma.
Methods :
This was a retrospective study consisting of 95 eyes of 94 patients comparing the surgical results of 45 non-neovascular eyes (No-NVG) with 50 neovascular eyes (NVG) with glaucoma after Ahmed valve implant at the Kresge Eye Institute. Intraocular pressure, number of glaucoma medications, and visual acuity were obtained for each patient at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Success was evaluated using criteria defined by having an IOP between 6 and 22, taking ≤ 2 glaucoma medications, having a visual acuity of light perception or greater, and the absence of additional glaucoma surgeries. A failure from IOP was defined by having an IOP greater or less than the stated range for 2 consecutive visits.
Results :
The No-NVG and NVG group had a mean age of 62.3 and 57.4 years (P=.10), respectively. The No-NVG group consisted of 20 females and 24 males, while the NVG group consisted of 26 females and 24 males (chi square=.27). The mean follow up for No-NVG was 31.1 months, while the NVG follow up was 26.6 months (P=.17). The mean pre-operative IOP for No-NVG and NVG were 33.8 mmHg and 40.3 mmHg (P=.019), respectively. The mean number of pre-op medications for the No-NVG and NVG were 2.8 and 2.6 (P=.37), respectively. Kaplan Meier Curve showed a success rate of 53.7% and 40.3% at 12 months for No-NVG and NVG (P=.60), respectively. At 24 months, the mean IOP for No-NVG and NVG patients were 17.0 mmHg and 17.2 mmHg (P=.95), respectively, and mean number of medications for No-NVG and NVG were 1.72 and 1.18 (P=.20), respectively.
Conclusions :
Although there is a significant reduction in IOP in both No-NVG and NVG groups, there was no significant difference between groups. However, the NVG group had a higher pre-op IOP compared to the No-NVG group.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.