Study compares Ahmed ClearPath® and Baerveldt® in high-risk or refractory glaucoma
Key Takeaways
- Both implants reduced intraocular pressure (IOP), medication use, and complication rates at up to 90 days.
- ACP may provide a relatively stronger pressure-lowering effect in more resistant cases.
- Larger samples and longer follow-up are needed to confirm these results.
A single-center, prospective, randomized trial found that the Ahmed ClearPath® (ACP) and Baerveldt® 250 mm² (BGI) implants were both effective and safe in patients with refractory or high-risk glaucoma. The study was presented at the AGS 2026 Annual Meeting.
Between February and September 2025, 21 eyes from 21 patients were included: 10 received ACP and 11 BGI. Most patients had primary open-angle glaucoma, and 15 used oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.
ACP patients tended to use more preoperative medications (3.2 vs 2.2; P=0.057), which the authors noted could indicate that ACP provides “a relatively stronger pressure-lowering effect in more resistant cases.” Both implants reduced intraocular pressure (IOP), medication use, and complication rates.
At 3 months, mean IOP was 13.1 mmHg in the ACP group and 12.9 mmHg in the BGI cohort (P=0.898). Medication use also decreased (1.1 vs 1.8, respectively; P=0.382), and there were no significant differences in complication or re-operation rates at up to 90 days post-implant.
The researchers noted that larger cohorts and longer follow-up are needed to confirm these results.
Reference
Gomes JV, Neto J, Soares de Melo Junior LA, et al. Ahmed ClearPath® versus Baerveldt® 250 mm2 for refractory and high-risk glaucoma: early results from a randomized clinical trial. Poster presented at: American Glaucoma Society Annual Meeting; February 19-22, 2026; Rancho Mirage, CA.
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