Glaucoma drainage devices (GDD) are increasingly utilized in the management of childhood glaucoma. This systematic review and meta-analysis assesses the efficacy of first-time Ahmed or Baerveldt implantation in children. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched for relevant English-language, peer-reviewed literature. Postoperative outcomes were pooled using random effects regression models with restricted maximum likelihood estimation. Thirty-two studies (1,221 eyes, 885 children) were included. Mean ± standard deviation preoperative IOP was 31.8 ± 3.4 mm Hg. Pooled mean IOP at 12 and 24 months postoperatively were 16.5 mm Hg (95% CI, 15.5-17.6) and 17.6 mm Hg (95% CI, 16.4-18.7), respectively. Pooled proportions of success were 0.87 (95% CI, 0.83-0.91) at 12 months, 0.77 (95% CI, 0.71-0.83) at 24 months, 0.54 (95% CI, 0.44-0.65) at 48 months, 0.60 (95% CI, 0.48-0.71) at 60 months, and 0.37 (95% CI, 0.32-0.42) at 120 months. There were no differences in proportion of success at 12 and 24 months among eyes that received Ahmed and Baerveldt tube shunts, nor between eyes with primary glaucoma, glaucoma following cataract surgery, or other secondary glaucoma. Our findings show that Ahmed and Baerveldt shunts substantially reduced IOP for at least 24 months in childhood glaucoma, with similar findings among device types and glaucoma etiologies.

Viral keratouveitis (VKU) could be visually debilitating owing to the intraocular inflammation causing collateral damage to the cornea and secondary elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP). In this retrospective, single-center, observational study, we analyze the clinical features and management options for VKU, with a brief review on incidence of glaucoma and its treatment outcomes. We reviewed the outpatient records at our tertiary hospital from 2015 to 2020 and found 53 eyes of 55 patients diagnosed as VKU. The main outcome measures were incidence of clinical signs, elevated IOP and glaucoma, and treatment modalities used. Sixty-four percent were males with a mean age of onset being 45.4 years. Eighty percent of the eyes were clinically diagnosed to have herpes simplex virus (HSV), 16% herpes zoster virus (HZV) and 4% cytomegalovirus (CMV). Ocular presentations most commonly noted were keratic precipitates (70.4%), corneal edema (66.7%). Associated elevation of IOP was seen in 24 eyes (44%), while glaucomatous damage was seen in 20% of the eyes. Those with fewer uveitic episodes (less than two), as opposed to those having more than two episodes (p < 0.09) posed a lesser risk of developing glaucoma. Almost all were treated with topical steroids and oral acyclovir. The need for glaucoma surgery, in our study, was only 7.2%. Majority of patients with glaucoma, as compared to those without, appeared to have a higher number of IOP spikes and uveitic episodes. CMV-associated eyes had higher risk of developing glaucoma and were more intractable, requiring more intense treatment strategies. This review of the clinical profile of an exclusive South Indian cohort of VKU with an attempt to understand the differences in presentation between the herpetic and CMV groups and its implication from a glaucoma perspective makes this study distinctive.
UNASSIGNED: Sudhakar P, Menon M, CK M, et al. Glaucoma in Viral Keratouveitis: A Retrospective Review at a Tertiary Eye Hospital. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2022;16(1):65-70.

The Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) is a popular glaucoma drainage implant used for the control of intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma. While in the past AGV implantation was reserved for glaucoma patients poorly controlled after one or more filtration procedures, mounting evidence has recently encouraged its use as a primary surgery in selected cases. AGV has been demonstrated to be safe and effective in reducing intraocular pressure in patients with primary or secondary refractory glaucoma. Compared to other glaucoma surgeries, AGV implantation has shown favorable efficacy and safety. The aim of this article is to review the results of studies directly comparing AGV with other surgical procedures in patients with glaucoma.

Pediatric glaucoma is potentially a blinding disease. Although goniotomy and trabeculotomy are associated with good early success rates, eventually 20% of these procedures fail and many children will require additional surgery to control the IOP in the long-term. In this review, we reported that adequate IOP control can be achieved with the placement of Ahmed glaucoma valve and can last 5 or more years. However, most patients will need one or more glaucoma medications at some point after surgery. In addition, the implants may be associated with pupillary irregularities, lenticular opacification as well as tube-related complications, particularly in the first year of life, as the globe is enlarging with age.