Combined Glaucoma Tube Shunt (Ahmed) and Fluocinolone Acetonide (Retisert™) Implantation Compared to Ahmed Alone in Uveitic Glaucoma

Mark Zivney, Phoebe Lin, Beth Edmunds, Mansi Parikh, Hana Takusagawa, Shandiz Tehrani

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: Glaucoma is a known complication of uveitis, and may require glaucoma tube shunt implantation for intraocular pressure (IOP) control. The success of glaucoma tube shunt implantation in the setting of a local ocular steroid depot in uveitic glaucoma remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients who underwent combined glaucoma tube shunt (Ahmed) and fluocinolone acetonide (Retisert™, Bausch + Lomb, Bridgewater, NJ, USA) implantation have superior outcomes compared to patients with Ahmed implants only in the setting of uveitic glaucoma. Methods: All participants were studied retrospectively and underwent Ahmed implantation alone or with existing/concurrent Retisert implantation (combined group) at a single academic institution. The main outcome measures were IOP, visual acuity (VA), number of IOP-lowering medications, and adverse events at 6 months after Ahmed implantation. Secondary outcome measures included adverse events and surgical success at 6 months after Ahmed implantation. Results: Mean IOP at 6 months after Ahmed implantation was 15.3 ± 4.8 and 15.1 ± 4.9 mm Hg in the Ahmed only group (n = 17) and the combined group (n = 17), respectively (p = 0.89). The mean number of IOP-lowering medications at 6 months after Ahmed implantation was 1.7 ± 1.0 and 1.8 ± 1.0 in the Ahmed only group and the combined group, respectively (p = 0.86). Mean VA at 6 months after Ahmed implantation was 0.35 ± 0.29 and 0.42 ± 0.33 log mean angle of resolution in the Ahmed only group and the combined group, respectively (p = 0.50). No significant differences in surgical success or adverse events were noted between the two groups. Conclusion: At 6 months, no significant differences in mean IOP, mean number of IOP-lowering medications, VA, surgical success, or adverse events were noted between Ahmed implantation alone or combined Ahmed and Retisert implantation in patients with uveitic glaucoma.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)223-233
Number of pages11
JournalOphthalmology and Therapy
Volume5
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2016

Keywords

  • Ahmed
  • Fluocinolone acetonide
  • Glaucoma tube shunt
  • Retisert
  • Uveitic glaucoma

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ophthalmology

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