Midterm outcomes of Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation and trabeculectomy in exfoliative glaucoma

To report the midterm outcomes of Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation and trabeculectomy (Trab) in exfoliative glaucoma (XFG).

We performed a retrospective comparison analysis of 95 eyes of 81 patients with AGV implantation versus 88 eyes of 82 patients with Trab for XFG up to 3 years.

The intraocular pressure, number of medications, corneal endothelial cell numbers, and surgical complications were analyzed. The cumulative probability of success was analyzed by 5 ≦IOP ≦18 mm Hg and reduction of IOP ≧20% from the preoperative IOP. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to analyze the probability of success and for the comparison between the Trab group and the AGV group.

The cumulative probability of the qualified surgical success rate was higher, but the complete success rate was lower in the AGV group than in the Trab group. AGV insertion for the eyes with a history of Trab failure and for the eyes without a history of previous glaucoma operations showed no significant difference in postoperative IOP. The occurrence of layered hyphema was higher in the AGV group, but the overall occurrence rates of other complications were similar in the 2 groups.

AGV implantation is a reasonable surgical method for XFG, especially for patients with a history of previously failed Trab.