Capsulectomy provides temporary relief but not a long-term solution for pediatric glaucoma
The Ahmed glaucoma device capsulectomy in pediatric patients serves as a temporary measure to manage intraocular pressure but does not prevent the need for additional surgeries in most cases over the long term, according to a study.
Researchers retrospectively reviewed the records of 22 eyes from 18 pediatric patients with glaucoma who underwent Ahmed glaucoma device (AGD) capsulectomies. The underlying causes of glaucoma included primary congenital glaucoma, anterior segment dysgenesis, Sturge-Weber syndrome, and angle recession
The study focused on post-capsulectomy intraocular pressure (IOP) and surgical success, defined as maintaining an IOP of < 21 mm Hg without requiring additional procedures.
Over a median follow-up of 5.8 years, 23% of cases achieved surgical success. However, 50% of patients required repeat surgeries, with the median time to re-operation at 80 months.
The researchers concluded that AGD capsulectomy in pediatric patients may delay but not prevent the need for further interventions over time.
Reference
Segar S, Ismail A, Shah R, et al. Long-term outcomes of Ahmed glaucoma drainage device capsulectomies in pediatric glaucoma patients. J AAPOS. 2024;104002. doi: 10.1016/j.jaapos.2024.104002. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39299510.
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