Purpose:

To compare the clinical results of silicone and polypropylene Ahmed glaucoma valves (AGVs).

Materials-Methods:

22 eyes of 22 patients with medically uncontrolled terminal glaucoma were included in this prospective study which was done between March 2006 and October 2007. Patients were categorized into 2 groups. In the first group, polypropylene AGVs (model S2) (P-AGV group) were implanted to 11 eyes. In the second group, silicone AGVs (model FP7) (S-AGV group) were implanted to 11 eyes. Postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), antiglaucomatous medication and complications were eva-luated.

Results:

Mean follow up was 12.1±3.1 months. Preoperative mean IOP was significantly decreased from 38 mm Hg to 16.33 mmHg in P-AGV group and 41.33 to 12 mm Hg in S-AgV group. In the S-AGV group antiglaucomatous medication was necessary for 1 patient (9.09%) to control IOP. On the other hand in the P-AGV group antiglaucomatous medication was necessary for 3 patients (27.27%) to control IOP. These differences in mean IOP and the number of antiglaucomatous medications were statistically significant (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in BCVA and complications (p>0.05). In the first postoperative day there was shallow anterior chamber in 3 cases of SAGV (27.27%) and 2 cases of PAGV (18.18%). Anterior chamber was reformed with viscoelastic agents in these patients. Minimal hyphema was observed in 4 cases (36.36%) in each group. Fibrin membrane was seen in 1 case of S-AGV group.

Conclusion:

In patients with terminal glaucoma; both polypropylene AGVs (model S2) and silicone AGVs (model FP7) are safe and effective methods. However the distribution of success rates of silicone AGVs were higher (p<0.05) and it was statistically significant.

Keywords: End-stage Glaucoma, Ahmed Glaucoma Valve, Seton Surgery