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Glaucoma valve implants in Nigerians a report of early experience with the Ahmed glaucoma valve


JM Waziri-Erameh
AE Omoti
IO Chukwuka

Abstract

Objective: To show the value of glaucoma valve implant surgery in the management of glaucoma in Nigerians.

Design: A prospective study of two glaucoma patients who had an Ahmed glaucoma valve implant at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and DDS Eye Surgery in Benin City.

Materials and method: One patient with a history of failed trabeculectomy and another with refractory glaucoma from complications of cataract surgery had Ahmed valve implantation. The pre-operative and post-operative intraocular pressures were measured with the Keeler non-contact tonometer and the patients were followed up for 6 months.

Results: The two eyes had intraocular pressure reduction far above the 20% benchmark reduction in pre-operative intraocular pressure and this was maintained throughout the 6-month follow-up period. The complications encountered were minimal with hypotony as the significant complication.

Conclusion: This preliminary report demonstrates the value of glaucoma valve implant surgery in Nigerian patients with glaucoma that is difficult to manage or refractory to other forms of treatment.

Nigerian Journal of Ophthalmology Vol. 14(1) 2006: 27-30

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eISSN: 2468-8363
print ISSN: 0189-9171