Outcomes of Ahmed valve surgery for refractory glaucoma in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

Surgical Outcomes of Glaucoma Drainage Device Implantation in Refractory Glaucoma Patients in Thailand

Purpose

To study the surgical outcomes of glaucoma drainage device (GDD) implantation in refractory glaucoma patients.

Patients and Methods

Retrospective chart review of glaucoma patients undergoing GDD implantation, Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV), Baerveldt glaucoma implants (BGI), and Aurolab aqueous drainage implantation (AADI) from January 2012 to June 2021. Glaucoma patients were classified into two groups: primary glaucoma including: primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) and juvenile open angle glaucoma (JOAG) and secondary glaucoma including: neovascular glaucoma (NVG), ocular surgery (vitreoretinal surgery, scleral buckling procedure, postoperative extra capsular cataract extraction, scleral fixation intraocular lens, penetrating keratoplasty), intraocular trauma, uveitis glaucoma, lens-induced glaucoma, pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG), iridocorneal endothelial (ICE) syndromes and Axenfeld Rieger Syndrome. Surgical outcomes were studied.

Results

Primary glaucoma included 57 eyes from 49 patients. Secondary glaucoma included 87 eyes from 85 patients. The cumulative probability of complete or qualified success of refractory glaucoma patients at five years were 53.4% (95%CI: 38.4%, 66.3%). Higher success rate was discovered in primary glaucoma at 65.8% (95%CI: 38.4%, 83.3%) than 45.2% (95%CI: 26.9%, 61.9%) in secondary glaucoma group significantly with p=0.003. While the results among success rate, adverse events and complications was not different between types of GDD. Predictors for failure were neovascular glaucoma with unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) 3.62 (95%CI: 1.45, 9.04) with p=0.006, and lens-induced glaucoma with adjusted HR 4.19 (95%CI: 1.10, 15.86) with p=0.035 in multivariable analysis. Tube malposition and occlusion were the most frequent adverse events at 11.11%, corneal decompensation at 5.5%, hypotony at 2% in the nonvalved group, and endophthalmitis at 0.69%.

Conclusion

Surgical success in refractory primary glaucoma was superior to secondary glaucoma with no difference between nonvalved and valved GDD implantation. Lens-induced glaucoma was a strong predictor for failure in GDD implantation.

Neovascular Glaucoma Progress and Impact of Therapeutic Intervention in Saudi Arabia

Purpose: This study aimed to present the outcomes of the therapeutic interventions for neovascular glaucoma (NVG) between 2002 and 2012 at a tertiary eye hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of the patients with NVG treated in the last 10 years at King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital was carried out. The demographics, visual acuity, and intraocular pressure (IOP) at the baseline were compared to that, at last, follow-up. The clinical course of treated eyes and causes for poor vision were reviewed.

Results: Among 597 eyes with NVG, the mean IOP at presentation was 32 mmHg. A total of 335 eyes (56.1%) were treated with pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP). In 459 (77%) eyes, IOP was controlled with medications or different surgeries. The vision on the last follow-up was 20/20 to 20/40 in 19 (3%) eyes, 20/50 to 20/200 in 67 (11%) eyes, <20/200 to 20/400 in 267 (45%) eyes, and <20/400 in 225 (38%) eyes. Nineteen eyes were soft/enucleated. In 45 (8%, 95% CI 6-10) eyes vision improved. The IOP was reduced to <22 mmHg in 369 (62%, 95% CI 58.2-65.9) eyes, 23-30 mmHg in 69 (12%) eyes and was > 31 mmHg in 102 (17%) eyes. In 26 (3.7%) eyes, ocular hypotony was noted. The causes of poor vision included retinal ischemia (n=75, 13%), optic nerve head cupping (n=104, 17%), retinal detachment (n= 42, 7%) and other (n=17, 3%).

Conclusion: The NVG is a serious ocular ischemic complication. Prompt therapy maintained or improved the vision and controlled IOP in 50% and more cases.

Safety and Efficacy of Ahmed Valve on Intractable Glaucoma in Saudi Population

PURPOSE

The study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of Ahmed glaucoma valve implant in eyes with intractable glaucoma and to evaluate the risk factors for failure.

METHODS

A retrospective evaluation of 83 patients (117 eyes) with intractable glaucoma who underwent silicone Ahmed glaucoma valve implant was done in a tertiary care center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between January 2014 and December 2016. Complete success was defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤21 mmHg without medication after a minimum follow-up of 6 months.

RESULTS

Eighty-three patients (117 eyes) with intractable glaucoma were evaluated. After a mean follow-up duration of 20.8 ± 3.1 (12-24) months, the overall success rate was achieved in 104 eyes (88.9%). Thirty-six eyes (30.8%) had a complete success rate, whereas 68 eyes (58.1%) had a qualified success rate. Thirteen eyes (11.1%) failed to achieve controlled IOP. The postoperative probability to fail was found to be increasing with time from 0.9% (0.9) in the 1^st month to 11.1% (9.9) after 1 year. Complications included a hypertensive phase in 25 eyes (21.4%), encapsulation in 10 eyes (8.5%), hyphema in 7 eyes (6%), hypotony in 2 eyes (1.7%), and blood clots in the implanted tube in 2 eyes (1.7%). The presence of hyphema, scleral patch, and coronary heart diseases was found to increase the risk of failure after Ahmed valve implantation (P = 0.006, 0.040, and 0.014, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Ahmed glaucoma valve implant was safe and effective in treating cases of intractable glaucoma.

Outcomes of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery in eyes with pre-existing glaucoma drainage devices

Purpose:

To evaluate the outcome of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) surgery in eyes with preplaced glaucoma drainage device (GDD) with respect to intraocular pressure (IOP) control as well as success of retinal detachment (RD) surgery.

Methods:

It is a retrospective case series. The case records of patients who underwent RD surgery after GDD implantation from 2000 to 2014 were screened. The demographic data, ocular examination findings at all visits, details pertaining to retinal detachment and its repair, and the postoperative course was documented.

Results:

Twelve patients were included in study. The mean age of patients was 24.3 years (median 11 years; range 3-72 years). Male: Female ratio was 3:1. Mean duration between GDD and RD was 24 months (4 days-91 months). Of the ten eyes that underwent surgery, nine eyes underwent pars plana vitrectomy, and in one eye scleral buckling was done. GDD was removed only in one eye. At final follow-up, retina was attached with controlled IOP in 6 (60%) eyes, of which 5 (50%) had improvement in best corrected visual acuity.

Conclusion:

Pars plana vitrectomy was required in almost all cases for the management of RD in eyes with preplaced GDD. Retinal reattachment with good IOP control could be achieved in 60% of eyes. Removal of the drainage device was not essential for the effective management of the RRD in most cases. With multidisciplinary approach, close follow-up and timely intervention, vision can be preserved along with glaucoma control and successful retinal reattachment.

Long-term results of Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation in Egyptian population

AIM

To evaluate the long-term results and complications of Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation in a cohort of Egyptian patients.

METHODS

A retrospective study of 124 eyes of 99 patients with refractory glaucoma who underwent AGV implantation and had a minimum follow-up of 5y was performed. All patients underwent complete ophthalmic examination and intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement before surgery and at 1d, weekly for the 1^st month, 3, 6mo, and 1y after surgery and yearly afterward for 5y. IOP was measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry and/or Tono-Pen. Complications and the number of anti-glaucoma medications needed were recorded. Success was defined as IOP less than 21 mm Hg with or without anti-glaucoma medication and without additional glaucoma surgery.

RESULTS

Mean age was 23.1±19.9y. All eyes had at least one prior glaucoma surgery. IOP was reduced from a mean of 37.2±6.8 to 19.2±5.2 mm Hg after 5y follow-up with a reduced number of medications from 2.64±0.59 to 1.81±0.4. Complete and qualified success rates were 31.5% and 46.0% respectively at the end of follow-up. The most common complications were encapsulated cyst formation in 51 eyes (41.1%), complicated cataract in 9 eyes (7.25%), recessed tube in 8 eyes (6.45%), tube exposure in 6 eyes (4.8%) and corneal touch in 6 eyes (4.8%). Other complications included extruded AGV, endophthalmitis and persistent hypotony. Each of them was recorded in only 2 eyes (1.6%).

CONCLUSION

Although refractory glaucoma is a difficult problem to manage, AGV is effective and relatively safe procedure in treating refractory glaucoma in Egyptian patients with long-term follow-up. Encapsulated cyst formation was the most common complication, which limits successful IOP control after AGV implantation. However, effective complications management can improve the rate of success.