Ahmed Valve Implantation Using Scleral Tunneling

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To assess the usefulness of Ahmed valve implantation using scleral tunneling. METHODS: Thirty-four eyes of 34 patients with refractory glaucoma who had not responded to medical treatment nor previous glaucoma surgery was given Ahmed valve implantation using scleral tunneling and were enrolled in the study with a minimum follow-up of six months. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 7.7 +/- 2.8 months (6~24 months). The mean preoperative IOP was 47.6 +/- 6.9 (25~70) mmHg and the mean postoperative IOP at six months was 18.7 +/- 9.8 (4~31) mmHg. The postoperative success rate was 73.5% and 73.3% at six and eighteen months, respectively, and was not affected by sex, preoperative diagnosis, or preoperative IOP. The postoperative complications were hyphema (4 eyes), choroidal detachment (3 eyes), and immediate hypotony (3 eyes). CONCLUSIONS: Ahmed valve implantation using scleral tunneling is useful, especially when patch graft is not available. The success rate was comparable with other traditional methods such as patch graft and scleral flap.