Long-term Outcomes of Uveitic Glaucoma Treated with Ahmed Valve Implant in a Series of Chinese Patients

Aim: To report long-term outcomes of secondary glaucoma due to uveitis treated with Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation in a series of Chinese patients.

Methods: The retrospective study included 67 eyes from 56 patients with uveitic glaucoma who underwent AGV implantation. Success of the treatment was defined as patients achieving intraocular pressure (IOP) levels between 6 and 21 mm Hg with or without additional anti-glaucoma medications and/or a minimum of 20% reduction from baseline IOP. The main outcome measurements included IOP, the number of glaucoma medications at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60mo after surgery, surgical complications, final best-corrected vision acuity (BCVA), visual field (VF) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL).

Results: The mean follow-up was 53.3±8.5 (range 48 to 60)mo. The cumulative probability of success rate was 98.5%, 95.5%, 89.6%, 83.6%, 76.1%, 70.1%, 65.7% and 61.2% at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60mo, respectively. IOP was reduced from a baseline of 30.8±6.8 to 9.9±4.1, 10.1±4.2, 10.9±3.7, 12.9±4.6, 13.8±3.9, 13.2±4.6, 12.3±3.5 and 13.1±3.7 mm Hg at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60mo, respectively (<0.01). The number of postoperative glaucoma medications was significantly decreased compared with baseline at all time points during the study period (<0.05). There was no significant difference between preoperative and postoperative BCVA. Remarkable surgical complications were not found after surgery. The VF and RNFL of the patients were stable after the surgery.

Conclusion: AGV implantation is safe and effect in terms of reducing IOP, decreasing the number of glaucoma medications, and preserving vision for patients with uveitic glaucoma.