Aqueous Drainage Device Fundamentals: Ahmed Glaucoma Valve

This video describes the basic steps of glaucoma drainage device, or tube shunt, surgery using an Ahmed Glaucoma Valve. Using both animation and surgical footage, Dr. Joseph Caprioli explains important anatomic landmarks that inform his approach. Surgery begins with placement of a traction suture. Next, he makes a fornix-based conjunctival flap with radial relaxing incisions, and places the plate of the valve into the pocket. The valve is sutured to the sclera; knots are buried or laid flat. The tube is trimmed, inserted into the anterior chamber and covered with a corneal patch. Closure of the conjunctiva concludes the surgery.