Outcomes of Small-Incision Cataract Surgery in Eyes With Preexisting Ahmed Glaucoma Valves

Gujral, Satvinder; Nouri-Mahdavi, Kouros; Caprioli, Joseph

doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2005.04.049

« Previous Next »American Journal of Ophthalmology
Volume 140, Issue 5 , Pages 911-913, November 2005

Outcomes of Small-Incision Cataract Surgery in Eyes With Preexisting Ahmed Glaucoma Valves

Presented as a poster at the annual ARVO meeting, April 2004, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Glaucoma Division, Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California–Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.

Accepted 22 April 2005. published online 30 August 2005.

Purpose

To investigate outcomes of phacoemulsification in eyes with functioning Ahmed Glaucoma Valves (AGVs).

Design

Observational case series.

Methods

We reviewed records of 19 patients (23 eyes) who had a clear-cornea phacoemulsification ≥3 months after insertion of an AGV between 1997 and 2002. The main outcome measures were intraocular pressure (IOP) control, number of medications, complications, and further glaucoma surgery.

Results

The median interval between AGV surgery and phacoemulsification was 0.7 years with an average (±SD) follow-up time of 1.6 (±0.6) years (range: 0.9 to 3.0 years). Four eyes (17%) had an IOP increase >10 mm Hg on day one. The mean IOP or number of medications did not significantly change after phacoemulsification at one month or thereafter (P > .05). One eye (4%) required a second AGV.

Conclusions

Small-incision cataract surgery is consistent with maintenance of IOP control in eyes with functioning AGV. A minority of the eyes will require repeat glaucoma surgery.