SEP 13, 2012
Glaucoma
This retrospective study found that intraoperative bevacizumab injection does not improve surgical outcomes of Ahmed valve implantation in neovascular glaucoma (NVG).
The authors reviewed the charts of 52 eyes with NVG that underwent Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation with or without intraoperative bevacizumab injection (1.25 mg). Surgical failure was defined as postoperative IOP > 21 mmHg at consecutive clinic visits, visual acuity becoming light perception negative, requirement of additional anti-glaucoma surgery, or devastating operative or postoperative complications.
At one year postop, the success rate in the bevacizumab group (70 percent) was higher than in the control group (62.5 percent), but this difference was not significant. The rate of postoperative complications was also similar between the groups.
Mean IOP in the bevacizumab group was significantly lower compared with the control group at 12 and 15 months. The mean number of medications was 2.73 ± 0.82 in the bevacizumab group and 2.63 ± 0.75 in the control group. Both groups showed a significant decrease in the number of medications one week postoperatively.
A preoperative history of trabeculectomy was a significant risk factor for surgical failure of Ahmed valve implantation (relative risk = 4.618).