Ahmed and Baerveldt Drainage Implants in the Treatment of Juvenile Open-angle Glaucoma

Ahmed and Baerveldt implants succeed in 90.7% of cases for lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) <21 mm Hg at 1 year when used for the treatment of juvenile open-angle glaucoma.

The purpose of this study was to report the 1-year outcomes of Ahmed and Baerveldt tubes as the treatment for juvenile open-angle glaucoma at an academic institution.

Patients 18 to 40 years of age at the time of juvenile open-angle glaucoma diagnosis, who had inadequately controlled glaucoma with an IOP of 18 mm Hg or more on maximum tolerated antiglaucoma therapy that underwent tube shunt surgery with at least 6 months of follow-up were eligible for the study. Exclusion criteria included evidence of neovascular, uveitic or inflammatory, steroid-induced or primary congenital glaucoma, or if they did not have light perception vision. Postoperative failure was defined as an IOP, with or without antiglaucoma drops, >21 mm Hg for 2 consecutive visits after 3 months from surgery, <20% decrease in IOP at 1 year, no light perception, or revision of an implant due to high IOP.

The study population included 32 eyes from 25 patients who underwent tube shunt surgery. The failure rate at 1-year follow-up was 9.3%, and the postoperative complication rate at 1-year follow-up was 9.3%. The average change from baseline to 1 year for IOP was a decrease of 9.8±9.10, for the number of antiglaucoma drops number was a decrease of 0.38±1.06, and for the visual acuity was an increase of 0.03±0.27.

Ahmed and Baerveldt implantation succeeded in lower IOP in 90.7% of patients at 1 year. Continuation of antiglaucoma drops to maintain the IOP after surgery is likely required.