Determinants of corneal endothelial cell loss after sulcus placement of Ahmed and Baerveldt drainage device surgery.

Aim: In patients who underwent multiple intraocular surgeries, we evaluated determinants of decreased corneal endothelial cell density (CECD) after sulcus placement following Ahmed and Baerveldt drainage device surgery.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients with glaucoma who underwent sulcus placement with an Ahmed glaucoma valve or a Baerveldt glaucoma implant. We compared presurgical and postsurgical CECD and risk factors for decreased CECD.

Results: We examined 41 eyes of 41 patients. Postsurgical CECD measurements were assessed 2.0±1.0 times during a median follow-up period of 28 months. The mean intraocular pressure (IOP) decreased from 28.4±11.6 mmHg to 12.2±5.3 mmHg 24 months after the operation. At 24 months, CECD decreased 14.6±5.4% after considering the variability in the number and time points of CECD determinations. History of prior surgery and higher preoperative IOP were significantly associated with a trend for a time-dependent decrease in CECD.

Conclusions: Risk factors for decreased CECD after sulcus placement during Ahmed and Baerveldt drainage device surgery included the number of previous intraocular surgeries and higher presurgical IOP.