Effectiveness of pars plana Ahmed® valve implantation in patients with refractory glaucoma.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the success rate and complications of the Ahmed FP7 valve implanted via Pars Plana in a group of vitrectomized patients with refractory glaucoma and anterior segment abnormalities from January 2018 to June 2023. METHODS: Quasi-experimental, prospective study. Eleven eyes with refractory glaucoma were included. Participants underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination, including assessment of intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction, visual acuity, characterization of glaucoma type, and number of antiglaucoma medications. RESULTS: The mean baseline IOP was 37.3 ±â€¯11 mmHg, which decreased to 13.5 ±â€¯3.0 mmHg after one year. The qualified success rate was 63.7%, while the complete success rate was 36.3%. The most common diagnosis was neovascular glaucoma in 36.4% of cases. The most frequent postoperative complications were choroidal detachment and hypotony. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that implantation of the Ahmed FP7 valve via pars plana is an effective and safe option for patients with refractory secondary glaucoma.