Aim: To report our experience with the fibrin sealant as a suture substitute for securing the human scleral patch graft during implantation of Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV).
Materials and methods: A retrospective, non-comparative study of 12 eyes of 12 patients who underwent an AGV implantation with fibrin sealant for part of the procedure during June 2009 to September 2010.
Results: The mean patient age was 21.5 ± 20.6 years. Male: Female ratio was 2 : 1. Seven (58.3%) patients were monocular. The indications for AGV were varied. The mean number of intra-ocular surgeries prior to an implantation of AGV was 1.8. The mean follow-up duration was 24.5 ± 17.9 weeks. There was a statistically significant reduction in the mean IOP and in the mean number of anti-glaucoma medications at the final visit compared to the pre-operative values (P < 0.01, paired t test). Conjunctival retraction was seen in 1 (8.3%) case. The scleral patch graft was retracted posteriorly in another (8.3%) case. There was no case of AGV tube exposure, tube-cornea touch, or conjunctival erosion. Vision threatening complication viz. late post-operative rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, unlikely to be related to the use of the fibrin sealant, occurred in 2 (16.6%) eyes.
Conclusion: The fibrin sealant offers the advantages of safety and convenience to the placement of a scleral patch graft during an AGV implantation.