Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation versus suprachoroidal silicone tube implantation following the injection of bevacizumab into the anterior chamber in patients with neovascular glaucoma

Abstract

Purpose: This study compared the efficacy and safety of Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation versus suprachoroidal silicone tube (SST) implantation after the injection of bevacizumab into the anterior chamber in patients with neovascular glaucoma. Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to undergo AGV or SST implantation. Bevacizumab was injected into the anterior chamber at a dosage of 1.25 mg/0.1 mL, 1 week before surgery. Intraocular pressure (IOP) control, complication, and success rates were compared between the groups. Success was defined as a final IOP > 5 mmHg, < 22 mmHg with or without any antiglaucoma drug. Results: A total of 23 patients were enrolled in the study, including 13 (56.5%) in the AGV group (group 1) and 10 (43.5%) in the SST group (group 2). The mean baseline IOP was 42.0 ± 9.1 mmHg in group 1 and 39.5 ± 10 mmHg in group 2 (p > 0.05). The mean IOP was 16.9 ± 7.0 mmHg in group 1 and 12.5 ± 6.7 mmHg in group 2 on the first day after surgery. After a mean follow-up period of 19.4 ± 5.2 months, success was achieved in 12 (92.3%) patients in group 1 and in 1 (10%) patient in group 2. There was a statistically significant difference in terms of the success rate between groups (p < 0.05). Complications included hyphema in three (23%) patients, obstruction of the AGV tube by iris tissue in one (7.7%) patient, and tube exposure in one patient (7.7%) in group 1. Suprachoroidal silicone tube dislocation to the anterior chamber was observed in one (10%) patient in group 2. Conclusion: AGV implantation after the injection of bevacizumab into the anterior chamber had a higher success rate than SST implantation. Complications were seen more frequently in the AGV group.