24-Month Outcomes of Ahmed ClearPath® Glaucoma Drainage Device for Refractory Glaucoma

Syril Dorairaj,1 Leticia A Checo,1 Isabella V Wagner,1 Richard D Ten Hulzen,1 Abhimanyu S Ahuja2 1Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA; 2Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USACorrespondence: Syril Dorairaj, Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL, USA, Tel +1 904-953-2377, Fax +1 904-953-7040, Email dorairaj.syril@mayo.eduPurpose: To describe the safety and efficacy of the Ahmed ClearPath® (ACP) 250 mm2 glaucoma drainage device (GDD) in the treatment of refractory primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).Patients and methods: This was a retrospective, noncomparative, single-surgeon, interventional case series of adult patients with medically ± surgically refractory POAG undergoing ACP implantation. Intraocular pressure (IOP), the number of glaucoma medications, and complications were recorded over 24 months of follow-up. Primary outcomes included mean reductions in both IOP and medication use through 24 months, and secondary outcomes included the proportion of eyes achieving an IOP between 6 and 19 mmHg, IOP reduction by ≥ 20%, and reduction by ≥ 1 medication at last mean follow-up.Results: Twelve eyes of 11 patients (mean age 71.3 ± 14.1 years) fit inclusion criteria and were enrolled. Most patients were Caucasian (n = 8), female (n = 10), and all had severe POAG (n = 11). The mean last follow-up was 18 months, at which time the mean (standard deviation) baseline IOP of 29.0 (7.6) mmHg was reduced to 12.2 (4.0) mmHg (58% reduction). 91.7% of eyes achieved an IOP between 6 and 19 mmHg, and 100% of eyes met an IOP reduction of ≥ 20%. Mean baseline number of glaucoma medications was 3.0 (0.9) and was reduced to 0.5 (0.7) at last mean follow-up (83.3% reduction), with 91.7% of eyes using ≥ 1 fewer medications. No long-term complications were observed, and short-term complications (mild hyphema, inflammation, and pain) were resolved by month 3.Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the second long-term study evaluating the efficacy of the Ahmed ClearPath drainage device in adult patients, and the first study with 24-months follow-up. The ACP device is safe and effective at reducing both IOP and medication burdens in patients with severe POAG. Additionally, minimal short-term complications were noted with no long-term adverse effects, increasing comfort for both the surgeon and the patient.Keywords: primary open angle glaucoma, intraocular pressure, IOP-lowering medications, valved drainage devices