Ahmed Glaucoma Valve in Aniridia

To evaluate long-term clinical outcomes after Ahmed Glaucoma Valve implantation in glaucoma associated with aniridia.

This was a retrospective, noncomparative, consecutive, interventional case series of 20 eyes in 15 patients with aniridic glaucoma treated with the Ahmed Glaucoma Valve (Model FP7, New World Medical, Rancho Cucamonga, CA). Patient records were reviewed for intraocular pressure (IOP), number of glaucoma medications, surgical success (5 mmHg ≤ IOP ≤ 21 mmHg and ≥20% from baseline, without additional glaucoma surgery, and without loss of light perception vision), and complications.

The IOP and number of glaucoma medications were significantly reduced at all time points after surgery. The mean IOP was 31.6 ± 8.4 and 15.6 ± 3.0 mmHg at baseline and 7 years after surgery, respectively (P<0.0005). At baseline and 7 years after surgery, the average number of medications was 3.0 ± 0.7 and 0.8 ± 0.8, respectively (P<0.0005). The cumulative probability of success was 95% at 7 years after surgery. Transient postoperative complications included shallow anterior chamber in 1 eye (5%) and choroidal effusion in 2 eyes (10%). Complications in the late postoperative period included tube repositioning in 4 eyes (20%), patch graft for tube exposure in 3 eyes (15%), and cataract in 1 eye (5%). Complications were resolved without vision loss in all patients.

Ahmed Glaucoma Valve implantation is effective for long-term control of IOP in patients with aniridic glaucoma. Complications were not associated with vision loss.