Risk Factors for Choroidal Detachment After Ahmed Valve Implantation in Glaucoma Patients

To assess the incidence and risk factors related to choroidal detachment after glaucoma drainage device (Ahmed valve) implantation.

Retrospective case-control study.

A total of 188 eyes of 188 glaucoma patients were enrolled who underwent Ahmed valve implantation surgery. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of choroidal detachment. The data were analyzed for factors associated with choroidal detachment. Separately, we divided eyes with choroidal detachment into 2 subgroups according to severity and conducted a subanalysis. In addition, we also analyzed the factors associated with chamber collapse.

The incidence of choroidal detachment was 35.1% according to wide-field fundus photography and 16.9% according to 45-degree fundus photography. The current study showed that age, central corneal thickness, axial length, etiology of glaucoma, history of cataract or glaucoma, hypertension, diabetes, and severity of the visual field (MD) were different between the choroidal detachment and nonchoroidal detachment groups. A multivariate analysis showed significant differences in age (P = .035), etiology of glaucoma (pseudoexfoliation; PEX) (P = .028), lens status (pseudophakia) (P = .011), and hypertension (P = .011). The greater the intraocular pressure difference before and after surgery, the greater the size of the choroidal detachment. Chamber collapse risk was associated with only short axial length.

The detection of choroidal detachment after Ahmed valve implantation can be increased according to the introduction of wide fundus photography. The risk of choroidal detachment is associated with the etiology of glaucoma (PEX), older age, pseudophakia (lens status), and hypertension.