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AIMS: To report corneal endothelial cell loss and in vivo visualization of the Ahmed glaucoma valve implant in eyes with refractory glaucoma. METHODS: Ten eyes underwent Ahmed valve implant surgery and were followed-up for 12 months. Data collected included intraocular pressure (IOP), number of antiglaucoma medications and surgery-related complications. At 6 and 12 months postoperatively, the intracameral length of the drainage tube (ICL) and the distance between the tube and the cornea (T-C distance), and the iris (T-I distance) were assessed using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Heidelberg cornea tomograph II (HRT II) was used to measure the corneal endothelial cell density. RESULTS: Mean (+/-SEM) preoperative IOP was 29.5+/-4 mmHg. Mean postoperative IOP was 11.6+/-2 at 12 months (P<0.01). Over a 6-month period, mean corneal endothelial loss was 7.9%+/-2.5 in the central and 7.5%+/-2.4 in the peripheral cornea (P<0.01). There was no correlation between central or peripheral corneal endothelial cell loss and the T-C, T-I distance or the ICL of the tube. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal endothelial cell loss occurs following Ahmed valve implant surgery, this appears to be multifactorial. AS-OCT and HRT II are promising methods for the follow-up of patients with a glaucoma drainage device.
Dr. E. Mendrinos, Department of Ophthalmology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
6.9.1.1 Confocal Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods > 6.9 Computerized image analysis > 6.9.1 Laser scanning)
6.9.2.1 Anterior (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods > 6.9 Computerized image analysis > 6.9.2 Optical coherence tomography)
2.2 Cornea (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)
12.8.2 With tube implant or other drainage devices (Part of: 12 Surgical treatment > 12.8 Filtering surgery)