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Evidence summaries

Aqueous Shunts for Glaucoma

There are probably no significant differences between different shunts in the control of intraocular pressure or other outcomes. Level of evidence: "C"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 15 studies with a total of 1153 subjects. Several different procedures were compared. No significant differences were observed between different types of shunts, with the exception of a meta-analysis of two trials comparing Ahmed implant with trabeculectomy where trabeculectomy resulted in lower mean IOPs 11 to 13 months later (mean difference 3.81 mm Hg, 95% CI 1.94 to 5.69 mm Hg).

Comment: The quality of evidence is lowered by poor quality of trials and sparse data in individual comparisons.

    References

    • Minckler DS, Vedula SS, Li TJ, Mathew MC, Ayyala RS, Francis BA. Aqueous shunts for glaucoma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2006 Apr 19;(2):CD004918. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords