Ab Interno Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Plugs In An Eye With Persistent Hypotony

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Glaucoma Management
• Uveitis Treatment

Background:

• Managing intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with uveitis and glaucoma drainage devices presents unique challenges.
• Persistent hypotony can lead to vision loss and requires effective therapeutic interventions.

Observation:

• A case report details a 47-year-old female patient with chronic panuveitis and secondary glaucoma, previously treated with two Ahmed glaucoma valves.
• The patient experienced a flare-up of panuveitis, resulting in persistent hypotony and critically low IOP.

Findings:

• A novel ab interno technique was employed, utilizing 2-0 prolene suture plugs to temporarily occlude the glaucoma drainage tubes.
• This intervention successfully increased the patient's IOP to within the normal range, demonstrating the efficacy of the plugging method.

Implications:

• The temporary ab interno glaucoma tube plug method provides a safe and effective strategy for managing acute hypotony in patients with preexisting glaucoma drainage devices.
• This technique offers a valuable option for ophthalmologists dealing with complex cases of uveitis-induced hypotony, potentially preserving visual function.