Long-term outcomes of the Ahmed glaucoma valve surgery in childhood glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To report the rates of success of Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) surgery in early childhood glaucoma and factors associated with success. METHODS: Children with primary congenital or early childhood secondary glaucoma who underwent AGV surgery over a 10-year period (one eye per child) at a single institution were identified. Surgical failure was defined as having one or more of the following: intraocular pressure of >21 mm Hg 3 months postoperatively, reoperation for glaucoma, and vision loss to no light perception. RESULTS: A total of 178 patients were identified (median age, 5.8 ± 5.5 years): 125 with primary congenital and 53 with secondary childhood glaucoma. The success rate at 1 year was 92% (95% CI, 88%-96%); at 5 years, 64% (95% CI, 55%-73%); and at 10 years, 36% (95% CI, 25%-52%). Younger age at baseline (P = 0.003) and secondary childhood glaucoma (P = 0.045) were associated with lower success. CONCLUSIONS: The AGV is associated with high short-term success in children with primary congenital glaucoma, but the 10-year success rates are poor. Younger age and secondary childhood glaucoma may be associated with a more refractory outcome.