Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess whether intraoperative testing of silicone Ahmed glaucoma valves (AGVs) would identify valves with an increased risk of low postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP).
Methods: In 30 consecutive cases of glaucoma surgery with AGV implantation, after priming the AGV, we intraoperatively measured the opening pressure A, closing pressure B, and re-opening pressure C using the active infusion pump of a phako-machine. IOP was checked postoperatively on the same day. Low IOP was defined as <5 mm Hg. Intraoperatively measured pressure characteristics of the valve function were analysed for their ability to predict postoperative IOP outcomes.
Results: Opening A, closing B, and re-opening C pressures (mean, (SD)) were 18.4 (5.1), 8.3 (4.7), and 11.7 (4.8)mm Hg, respectively. Ten patients (33.3%) had low IOP. An opening pressure of ≤18 mm Hg predicted low postoperative IOP with a sensitivity (10/10) of 100% (95% CI, 69.2-100) and a specificity (13/20) of 65.0% (95% CI, 40.8-84.6).
Conclusions: AGVs have a high variability of opening, closing, and re-opening pressures. An opening pressure of ≤18 mm Hg, a closing pressure of ≤10 mm Hg, or a re-opening pressure of ≤11 mm Hg identified all patients with low postoperative IOP.