Digital ocular massage for hypertensive phase after Ahmed valve surgery

To examine the role of ocular massage during the hypertensive phase after Ahmed valve surgery

Nonrandomized prospective study.

Eighteen patients with intraocular pressure (IOP) above target 1 to 8 weeks after Ahmed glaucoma drainage device surgery underwent digital ocular massage. The mean IOP 1 hour after massage was 4.3 mm Hg lower than before massage (18.8%, P=0.0008). We used a 20% reduction in IOP at 1-hour postmassage to differentiate responders from nonresponders and by this definition 50% responded to ocular massage. One patient (5.6%) responded well but was unable to perform massage at home. The remaining 8 patients (44.4%) performed regular digital massage and the 20% drop in IOP was maintained at the 2-week, 6-week, and 6-month review, although by 6 months 50% required glaucoma drops to achieve target IOP. There were no massage-associated complications in this series.

Digital ocular massage has a useful role to play in the management of the hypertensive phase after Ahmed glaucoma drainage device surgery. In this series 50% of patients achieved a 20% drop in IOP with massage.