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Functioning glaucoma valve no impediment to cataract surgery
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IOP can be maintained after small-incision cataract surgery in patients with functioning Ahmed glaucoma valves, according to a study. The authors note that a minority of eyes may need additional glaucoma surgery after the cataract operation.
Satvinder Gujral, MD, and colleagues at the Jules Stein Eye Institute reviewed the charts of 23 eyes of 19 patients who underwent clear cornea phacoemulsification at least 3 months after insertion of an Ahmed glaucoma valve implant. All surgeries were performed between 1997 and 2002. The main outcome measures were IOP control, number of medications, complications and further glaucoma surgery.
Follow-up averaged 1.6 years, and the median time between glaucoma surgery and cataract surgery was 0.7 years. Four eyes had an IOP increase of more than 10 mm Hg on day 1. The mean IOP did not change during the follow-up period, nor did the number of glaucoma medications. In one eye, a second valve implantation was needed.
The study is published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology.