A Retrospective Comparison of Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Implants with or without Ologen Collagen Matrix

Clin Ophthalmol. 2023 Jan 4:17:15-23. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S396330. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Purpose: To study the effects of Ologen collagen matrix on the outcomes of the Ahmed glaucoma valve implant.

Study design: Retrospective case-control multicenter study, conducted at four centers, comparing the 6-month outcomes of Ahmed valve implants with or without Ologen.

Participants: The study included 125 eyes in a 4:1 pairing (25 patients with Ologen matched to 100 patients without Ologen).

Intervention: Ologen was placed over the Ahmed plate in the study group. Success was defined as an intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤ 21 mmHg either with no medication (complete success) or regardless of medications (qualified success). Other outcomes included IOP variation, eye drop use, and surgical complications.

Results: Overall, the IOP decreased from 30.72 ± 9.08 to 16.14 ± 4.79 mmHg (p=0.0001). Of the 125 eyes, 26 achieved complete success and 94 achieved qualified success. There was no difference in complete success between the groups (p=0.12); however, there was a difference in qualified success (p=0.01), with better results in the no-Ologen group (80% vs 56%). There were no differences in the decrease in medications (p=0.06), as well as the incidence of complications (p=0.69). Although the need for postoperative surgical reintervention was higher in the no-Ologen group (13% vs 4%), the difference was not significant (p=0.2).

Conclusion: The reductions in IOP and number of medications were similar in both groups after 6 months, with similar complication rates. The qualified success rate was lower in the Ologen group, but further studies are needed to clarify the role of Ologen in Ahmed valve implants.

Keywords: glaucoma; glaucoma anti-fibrotic agents; glaucoma incisional surgery; postoperative glaucoma hypotony; tube shunts.

Grants and funding

The authors state that this research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.