Ahmed glaucoma valve in eyes with preexisting episcleral encircling element

To describe the use of Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) in the management of intractable glaucoma in eyes with a preexisting episcleral encircling element.

This is a retrospective, consecutive, noncomparative study. The study included 12 eyes of 12 patients with a preexisting episcleral encircling element that underwent implantation of silicone AGV to treat intractable glaucoma during January 2009 to September 2010.

The mean patient age was 25.6 (standard deviation 17.1) years. Five (41.6%) patients were monocular. The indications for AGV were varied. The mean duration between placement of episcleral encircling element and implantation of AGV was 30.5 (33.8) months. The mean follow-up was 37.4 (22.9) weeks. Preoperatively, the mean intraocular pressure (IOP) was 31.4 (7.9) mmHg and the mean antiglaucoma medications were 2.8. At the final postoperative follow-up, the mean IOP was 12.5 (3.5) mmHg and the mean number of antiglaucoma medications was 0.8 (P < 0.001). The complications observed over the follow-up period did include corneal graft failure in three eyes, tube erosion in two eyes and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in one eye.

AGV is an effective option in the management of intractable glaucoma in eyes with a preexisting episcleral encircling element keeping in mind the possibility of significant postoperative complications.