Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation experience at King Hussein Medical Centre

Abstract EN

Objectives: To evaluate Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Implantation at King Hussein Medical Center.

Indications, outcomes, and complications were investigated.

Methods: The medical records of all patients who had Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Implant surgery at King Hussein Medical Center during the period between August 2006 and January 2009 were retrospectively reviewed.

A total of 50 cases were enrolled in this study.

A specially designed medical record abstract form was used to collect the following data: type of glaucoma, visual acuity, intraocular pressure, number of medications, and postoperative complications.

Simple descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, percentage) were used to describe the study variables Results: The mean age of patients was 54.3 ± 2.1 years (range 1.3 to 79.9 years).

Types of glaucoma included uveitic glaucoma, paediatric glaucoma, aphakic/ pseudophakic glaucoma, neo-vascular glaucoma, traumatic glaucoma and previous failed trabeculectomy.

The mean follow-up duration was 16.6 ± 1.7 months (range 9.8 months to 26.1 months).

The mean intraocular pressure before surgery was 28.6 mm and 14.2 mmHg after surgery.

The mean number of eye drops used by patient was 3.8 ± 0.4 (range 1 to 4) and 1.1 ± 0.2 (range 0 to 3) before and after surgery respectively.

Transient postoperative hypotony with shallow anterior chamber occurred in 8 patients.

Encapsulated bleb occurred in 5 patients.

Revision of the procedure was performed in 3 cases.

Endophthalmitis was not encountered in our series.

Conclusion: Results of Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Implantation surgery at King Hussein Medical Center showed that it is safe and effective procedure for treating refractory glaucomas.

Key words: Ahmed valve, Encapsulated bleb, Implant and refractory glaucoma.