Effect of temporal clear corneal phacoemulsification on intraocular pressure in eyes with prior Ahmed glaucoma valve insertion

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of temporal clear corneal phacoemulsification on intraocular pressure (IOP) in eyes after Ahmed glaucoma valve insertion. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. METHODS: The files of 13 patients who received phacoemulsification after Ahmed glaucoma valve insertion were reviewed in this retrospective case series. Visual acuity, IOP, and the number of glaucoma medications before phacoemulsification were used as a baseline for comparison with the values at various follow-up intervals. RESULTS: The mean IOP before phacoemulsification was 15.1 mm Hg +/- 3.6 (SD). Postoperatively, it was 12.8 +/- 4.5 mm Hg, 13.1 +/- 3.6 mm Hg, 16.4 +/- 5.2 mm Hg, 15.8 +/- 4.0 mm Hg, 16.1 +/- 3.9 mm Hg, 15.3 +/- 4.1 mm Hg, and 15.2 +/- 3.4 mm Hg at 1 day after 1 week, at 1, 2, 6, and 12 months, and at last visits, respectively. The mean IOP did not differ significantly from the prephacoemulsification value at any follow-up. The number of glaucoma medications increased significantly after phacoemulsification (P = .031), and 6 of 13 eyes required additional glaucoma medication because of IOP elevation at approximately 1 month. CONCLUSIONS: Temporal clear corneal phacoemulsification did not increase IOP significantly in eyes with prior Ahmed glaucoma valve insertion. However, some eyes experienced an IOP elevation 1 month after phacoemulsification and required glaucoma medication.