Clinical findings following Ahmed Glaucoma Valve™ implantation in pediatric glaucoma

Amir Pirouzian¹, Joseph L Demer²

¹Department of Ophthalmology, San Diego Children’s Hospital, San Diego, UCSD, San Diego, CA, USA; ²Department of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Purpose: To describe clinical findings after Ahmed valve drainage implantation in children.

Design: All records in one practice were reviewed to identify and describe clinical findings in all children who had undergone Ahmed Glaucoma Valve^TM S2 model insertion for uncontrolled primary or secondary glaucoma.

Results: A total of 6 patients were identified, ranging in age from 2–15 years. Mean follow-up time averaged from 2–5 years from the time of tube insertion. Three patients exhibited pupillary peaking towards the tube of the valve. All patients required additional surgery or additional medications to control intraocular pressure. Lenticular opacification near the tube site developed in one patient. Gradual tube extrusion was also noted in another two patients.

Conclusion: Multiple clinical events follow the Ahmed valve insertion in children. Pupillary irregularity is the most commonly noted event in this series. To avoid or reduce the risk of this complication, additional or modification of surgical procedures could be considered. The mechanism of such occurrence will further be discussed.

Keywords: Ahmed Glaucoma Valve, children, pediatric glaucoma