Trabeculectomy with Ex-PRESS implant versus Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation-a comparative study

AIM：To compare the surgical outcomes of trabeculectomy with Ex-PRESS implant and Ahmed glaucoma valve（AGV） implantation. METHODS： Patients who underwent trabeculectomy with Ex-PRESS implants or AGV implantation separately were included in this retrospective chart review.Main outcome measures were surgical failure and complications.Failure was defined as intraocular pressure（IOP） 〉21 mm Hg or 〈5 mm Hg on two consecutive visits after 3mo,reoperation for glaucoma,or loss of light perception.Eyes that had not failed were considered as complete success if they did not required supplemental medical therapy.RESULTS： A total of 64 eyes from 57 patients were included： 31 eyes in the Ex-PRESS group and 33 eyes in the AGV group.The mean follow-up time was 2.6 ±1.1y and 3.3±1.6y,respectively.Patients in the AGV group had significantly higher baseline mean IOP（P =0.005）,lower baseline mean visual acuity（VA）（P =0.02）,and higher proportion of patients with history of previous trabeculectomy（P 〈0.0001）.Crude failure rates were 16.1%,n =5/31 in the Ex-PRESS group and 24.2%,n =8/33 in the AGV group.The cumulative proportion of failure was similar between the groups,P =0.696.The proportion of eyes that experienced postoperative complications was32.3% in the Ex-PRESS group and 60.1% in the AGV group（P =0.0229）.CONCLUSION： Trabeculectomy with Ex-PRESS implant and AGV implantation had comparable failure rates.The AGV group had more post-operative complications,but also included more complex cases with higher baselinemean IOP,worse baseline mean VA,and more previous glaucoma surgeries.Therefore,the results are limited to the cohort included in this study.

Short-term outcomes of mitomycin C-augmented excisional bleb revision with capsulectomy for failed Ahmed glaucoma valve

AIM: To report short-term outcomes of mitomycin C-augmented excisional bleb revision with capsulectomy(ERC) after Ahmed glaucoma valve(AGV) failure.METHODS: Patients who underwent ERC procedures between January 2017 and December 2019 with a minimum follow-up of 6mo were evaluated retrospectively for indications of AGV and AGV implantation to ERC interval.The number of anti-glaucoma medications(AGMs),intraocular pressure(IOP) and best corrected visual acuity(BCVA) were recorded at baseline, 1, 7, 30, 90, and 180d.Intra-and postoperative complications were also recorded.Positive outcome was defined as IOP≤21 mm Hg with or without AGMs.RESULTS: Fourteen eyes [14 patients, median age 69.5y, interquartile range(IQR) 61.3-80] were included.Pseudoexfoliative glaucoma(n=5, 36%) was the most common form of glaucoma. The median AGV implantation to ERC interval was 8.8mo(IQR 3.91-43.67). At 6mo, the median number of AGMs decreased from 3.0(IQR 3.0-4.0)to 2.0(IQR 1.5-3), the median IOP decreased from 26 mm Hg(IQR 22-29) to 16.5 mm Hg(IQR 13.75-20) and there was no significant change in BCVA. The success rate at 6mo was 92.9%. The Kaplan-Meier cumulative probability of survival was 93%, 79%, 64%, and 64% at 1wk, and 1,3, and 6mo, respectively. No intraoperative complications were identified. Postoperative complications were identified in 5 eyes(36%), which were resolved spontaneously during the first week following ERC.CONCLUSION: ERC has a high success rate for shortterm management of AGV failure. A longer follow-up study is required to determine long-term cumulative failure rates.